Physician Perceptions About Parenteral Hydration in Latin America and Spain

• Conditions: Advanced Cancers; Dehydration
• Interventions: Behavioral: Survey

• Registration Number: NCT01011140
• Lead Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to assess palliative care physicians' attitudes, beliefs and practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life in Latin America and Spain.

Objectives:

1. To assess palliative care physicians' attitudes, beliefs and practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life in Latin America and Spain.

2. To assess cross-national differences in practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life. (Latin America vs. Spain).

3. To determine the percentage of physicians who practice parenteral hydration at the end-of-life in the hospital setting and the home setting.

4. To examine the association between providers' parenteral hydration practice patterns and:

* 1. provider demographic characteristics;

* 2. specific characteristics of their practice settings; and

* 3. training and experience in end of life care;

5. To determine which factors most predict the practice of parenteral hydration at the end of life among palliative care physicians.

Detailed Description

This study is a collaboration between MD Anderson's Departments of Palliative care and Rehabilitation Medicine, Health Disparities Research, the Latin American Association for Palliative Care (ALCP) and the Spanish Society for Palliative Care (SECPAL). The proposed study involves a 10-15 minute online survey of palliative care physicians from Latin America and Spain to assess their attitudes, beliefs and practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2009-11-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2009-11-10
• Study First Posted: 2009-11-11
• Study Start: 2010-01
• Status Verified: 2019-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2019-01-11
• Last Update Posted: 2019-01-14
• Primary Completion: 2020-01
• Study Completion: 2020-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: UNKNOWN
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 516

Inclusion Criteria

1. Palliative care physicians practicing in Latin America and Spain and affiliated with either the ALCP or SECPAL.
2. Physicians must report dedicating at least 30% of their practice to palliative care.
3. Physician must be 18 years of age or older.

Exclusion Criteria

1. None

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Online Survey	Survey	Survey of Palliative care physicians from Latin America and Spain

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of terminally ill cancer patients overall that receive an order of parenteral hydration as reported by physicians	Online Survey, completion any time during estimated 2 month period

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; 🇺🇸 Houston, Texas, United States