m-Palliative Care Link: Improving Symptom Control and Information Exchange Among Specialists and Local Health Workers Treating Late Stage Tanzanian Cancer Patients
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 98
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Pain control
研究概览
简要总结
This work aims to improve late-stage cancer patients' access to high quality, patient-centered symptom assessment and control via the creation, field test, and outcomes assessment of a scalable mobile application (mPalliative Care Link; mPCL)-built around a locally-validated Palliative care Outcome Scale- that links a limited pool of existing Tanzanian palliative care specialists with patients, lay/family caregivers, and local health workers.
详细描述
The investigators hypothesize that a mobile device-based symptom assessment, control and communication application (m-Palliative Care Link (mPCL) will extend access to palliative care specialists (hereafter named specialists), resulting in: a) symptom control information exchange between specialists, patients, and local health workers and b) reduced symptom burden in late-stage cancer patients.
This hypothesis will be tested by accomplishing the following specific aims in the two-year study period:
Aim 1. In partnership with local palliative care specialists, to design and create a secure mobile communication application (m-Palliative Care Link; mPCL) for facilitating remote assessment of and communication about patient symptom control needs among specialists, patients/caregivers, and local health workers (all of whom are referred to here as user groups). mPCL will:
- Regularly deliver the APCA POS (hereafter POS) to the cancer patient/caregiver via mobile device; allow them to complete the outcome scale on this device; and return responses to the specialist and local health worker for access via a secure website.
- Enable specialist POS review/action in partnership with the local health worker.
- Allow the specialist to communicate with the patient/caregiver and local health worker regarding further symptom assessment and control based on existing standards and the patient's desires and needs.
- Enable the specialist to generate/update patient records for ongoing review.
- Record and track symptom control as a trajectory throughout the patient's illness via collection, storage, and analysis of POS responses.
Aim 2. To usability test an mPCL prototype through a combination of hands-on observation/feedback and survey-based assessment of ease of use and suggestions for change among 5-7 participants from each user group. Usability test data will be used to improve mPCL design for subsequent field test (see Aim 3).
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Health Services Research
- 盲法
- None
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 21 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Patients will be eligible for field test if they meet the following criteria:
- •Are ORCI inpatients with untreatable, late stage cancer
- •Age 21 years or older
- •Willing to enroll
- •Able to understand and sign informed consent document
- •Have four-month life expectancy or greater based on specialist assessment
- •Have caregivers available/willing to support outpatient care for duration of field test
- •Have a local health worker to support their outpatient care who consents to participate in the field test (i.e., partner with palliative care specialists for the duration of field test)
- •Live within 50 km of ORCI for access to medications and study nurse support
- •Have experience using a mobile device as measured by past cell phone ownership
- •Have completed primary school
排除标准
- •Not meeting inclusion criteria
结局指标
主要结局
Pain control
时间窗: Up to 4 months
APCA African Palliative Outcome Scale. Pain scale from 0-5 (low to high).
次要结局
- Application utility(six week survey)
研究者
Susan Miesfeldt
Principal Investigator
MaineHealth