Behaviors and Mental Disorders

All Conditions

Quality of Life

The experimental arm receives routine symptom screening at every outpatient visit; if symptoms are above a certain threshold, then a triggered email is sent to a triage nurse, who calls the patient to offer early referral to and follow-up by a symptom control and palliative care team.

Symptom screening with Targeted Early Palliative care (STEP)

Camilla Zimmermann, MD, PhD

Palliative care is defined as multidisciplinary care that increases quality of life (QOL) for patients with a life-threatening illness. Although it is known that patients with the most severe physical and psychological symptoms have the greatest need for palliative care, these patients are often not referred to palliative care services in a timely manner.

We have developed a system called STEP (Symptom screening with Targeted Early Palliative care) that identifies patients with high symptom burden in order to offer them timely access to palliative care. The investigators are conducting a single-arm trial at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre to determine the feasibility of a larger randomized trial of STEP versus usual care and to establish specific parameters for its planning.

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown when patients with advanced cancer were referred early to specialized palliative care teams, they had improved QOL, symptom control, and greater satisfaction with their cancer care. Such routine specialized palliative care intervention, while effective, may be challenging to enact broadly with widespread shortages of palliative care physicians. STEP systematically identifies patients with the greatest need, using symptom screening at every outpatient visit, with triage and targeted referral to palliative care. This could reduce resource use while directing care to the most vulnerable.

Patients will be recruited from Breast, Lung, Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, and Gynecology medical oncology clinics. Consenting participants will complete questionnaires measuring outcomes of QOL, symptom control, depression, and satisfaction with care at recruitment, 2, 4 and 6 months. The objectives of the study are to assess the feasibility of conducting a larger phase III trial and to collect information to assist in trial planning and sample size calculation for such a trial. Feasibility criteria are: i) ≥100 patients accrued in 12 months; ii) ≥70% complete screening for ≥70% of visits; iii) ≥60% of those for whom a call is triggered meet at least once with the EPC team; iv) ≥60% complete measures at each endpoint.

Symptom Screening With Targeted Early Palliative Care (STEP) for Patients With Advanced Cancer

Symptom Screening With Targeted Early Palliative Care (STEP) for Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Pilot Trial

The FACIT-Sp encompasses the FACT-G (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General) and FACIT spiritual well-being subscale to measure physical, social/family, emotional, functional and existential well-being.

The FACIT-Sp encompasses the FACT-G (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General) and FACIT spiritual well-being subscale to measure physical, social/family, emotional, functional and existential well-being. Scores range from 0-156 with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

The QUAL-E (Quality of Life at the End of Life) measures quality of life domains including life completion, symptoms impact, relationship with health care provider, and preparation for end of life. Scores range from 21-105 with higher scores indicating better quality of life.

Symptom control is measured by the 11-item ESAS-r-CS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-revised plus constipation and trouble sleeping). All 11 items are summed for the ESAS-r-CS Total Distress Score (TDS), where higher scores indicate worse symptom burden.

Depression is measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Scores range from 0-27 with higher scores indicating worse depression.

Satisfaction with care is measured by the FAMCARE-P16 (Family Satisfaction with Cancer Scale modified for patients). Scores range from 16-80 with higher scores indicating higher satisfaction with care.

University Health Network, Toronto

Neoplasms

Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases

Carcinoma

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck

Skin Neoplasms

Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial

Neoplasms by Histologic Type

Neoplasms, Squamous Cell

Head and Neck Neoplasms

Patients with high risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head-neck area receiving regular, multidisciplinary care.

Patients receiving regular care. In addition, validated questionnaires are administered at two measurement points:

1. after the multidisciplinary consultation, a baseline questionnaire\*, the decision conflict scale and the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire are administered by phone.
2. 1 month after completion of the treatment program (care pathway) the EQ-5D-5L, the BaSQoL and the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 questionnaires will be administered by phone.

Completing the questionnaires takes about 30 minutes each time.

\*Baseline questionnaire: gender, age, marital status, education level, World Health Organization (WHO) performance status, presence of informal care, stage and treatment of cSCC, history of skin cancer, presence of current other skin cancer, and average travel time to hospital.

Regular care with additionally administration of questionnaires

Emmy Cruts, MD

S.F.K. Lubeek, MD, PhD

K Mosterd, MD, PhD

Patient reported outcomes in patients with high-risk cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in the head-neck region are an important part of the complex care for these patients. Health-related quality of life, decision conflicts in the choice of treatment and satisfaction with care have not yet been sufficiently studied in this patient group.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer worldwide after basal cell carcinoma. It involves approximately 20% of all cutaneous malignancies and its incidence is still increasing. In 2020, nearly 15,000 cSCCs were reported in the Netherlands, of which approximately 50% concerned patients aged 75 years or older. UV radiation is the main risk factor for development of a cSCC, therefore the majority of cSCCs are localized to the sun-exposed skin in the head-neck region. cSCCs have a metastatic rate of 2.6-5% and recurrence rate of 1.9-3.7%, with rates increasing in high-risk cSCCs. The increasing incidence, advanced age, the (often) high-risk localization in the head-neck area (given functional and cosmetic importance) and the possible high risk of metastasis result in complex care, especially in stage T2 to T4 cSCCs, also known as high-risk cSCCs.

Patient-reported outcomes and health related quality of life (HRQoL) are important outcomes in the care for high-risk cSCCs in the head-neck region (HNcSCCs). Previous research is limited regarding the impact of cSCCs on QoL in patients with high-risk HNcSCCs , as is research on decision conflicts in the choice of treatment. The PROFILES registry (Arts, 2019) investigated QoL and satisfaction with care in 215 patients with keratinocyte carcinomas in the head-neck region. However, the majority of the patients had basal cell carcinoma (81%); only 23 patients had cSCC. Besides, no distinction was made in high or low risk cSCC. Finally, quality of life and patient satisfaction questionnaires were not administered until at least one year after diagnosis.

Other studies of QoL in cSCC patients do not distinguish stage and/or location of the tumor, involve small study populations, or only use oncological questionnaires rather than disease-specific questionnaires.

In conclusion, there is little scientific research on health related quality of life, decision conflicts in the choice of treatment and satisfaction with care in specific patients with high-risk HNcSCCs.

Decisional Conflicts, Health-related QoL and Satisfaction With Care in High-risk cSCC in the Head-neck Region

Decisional Conflicts, Health-related Quality of Life and Satisfaction With Care in High-risk Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma in the Head-neck Region: Validated Questionnaires

Decisional conflicts expressed as mean total and domain scores on the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) questionnaire.

The DCS questionnaire consist of 16 items related to decision conflicts. Items are given a score value of 0 (strongly agree), 1 (agree), 2 (neither agree or disagree), 3 (disagree) and 4 (strongly disagree). The total score can be calculated by summarize all scores, dividing by 16 and then multiplying by 25. The total score ranges from 0 to 100. A higher score correlates with a higher decisional conflict.

The 5 domain subscores are: uncertainty (3 items), informed (3 items), values clarity (3 items), support (3 items) and effective decision (4 items). The subscores can be calculated by summarize the (3 or 4) items, dividing by the number of items (3 or 4) and then multiplying by 25. The subscores range from 0 to 100 where a higher score correlates with a higher decisional conflict.

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) expressed as mean total/domain scores on the EuroQol five-dimensional (5D) five-level (5L) (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire.

The EQ-5D-5L consist of 5 dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression). Each dimension has 5 response levels (no, slight, moderate, severe or extreme problems) resp. coded from 1 to 5. The EuroQol-visual analogue scale records the overall health on a vertical visual analogue scale (0 to 100). Example: a response of 77 is coded 77. A higher score indicates a better health status).

HRQoL expressed as mean total/domain scores on the Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma QoL (BaSQoL) questionnaire.

The BaSQoL consist of 5 scales: behaviour, diagnosis/treatment, worries, appearance and other people. Items are scored: 0 (not at all), 1 (a little), 2 (quite a bit), 3 (very much). An average score per scale will be calculated (the sum of all scores within one scale, divided by the number of items) resulting in a scale score of 0 to 3. A higher score indicates a higher influence of skin cancer on daily life.

Satisfaction with care expressed as mean total and domain scores on the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 (patient satisfaction) questionnaire.

The EORTC IN-PATSAT32 is composed of 11 multi-item scales (including doctors' and nurses' interpersonal skills, technical skills, information provision and availability, and other hospital personnel kindness/helpfulness and information giving, waiting time and access) and 3 single item scales (including exchange of information, comfort/cleanliness and general satisfaction). All of the scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high scale score represents a high level of satisfaction with care.

Differences in decisional conflict outcome measures (primary outcome 1) between Maastricht University Medical Center+ and Radboud University Medical Center, expressed as mean total/domain scores on the Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) questionnaire.

The DCS questionnaire consist of 16 items related to decision conflicts. Items are given a score value of 0 (strongly agree), 1 (agree), 2 (neither agree or disagree), 3 (disagree) and 4 (strongly disagree). The total score can be calculated by summarize all scores, dividing by 16 and multiplying by 25 (total score range 0-100). A higher score correlates with a higher decisional conflict. The subscores are: uncertainty (3 items), informed (3 items), values clarity (3 items), support (3 items) and effective decision (4 items). The subscores can be calculated by summarize the items, dividing by the number of items and multiplying by 25. The subscores range from 0-100; a higher score correlates with a higher decisional conflict.

Differences in health-related quality of life outcome measures (primary outcome 2) between Maastricht University Medical Center+ and Radboud University Medical Center. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) expressed as mean total/domain scores on the EuroQol five-dimensional (5D) five-level (5L) (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire.

The EQ-5D-5L consist of 5 dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression). Each dimension has 5 response levels (no, slight, moderate, severe or extreme problems) resp. coded from 1 to 5. The EuroQol-visual analogue scale records the overall health on a vertical visual analogue scale (0 to 100). Example: a response of 77 is coded 77. A higher score indicates a better health status).

Differences in health-related quality of life outcome measures (primary outcome 3) between Maastricht University Medical Center+ and Radboud University Medical Center. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) expressed as mean total/domain scores on the EuroQol five-dimensional (5D) five-level (5L) (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire.

The EQ-5D-5L consist of 5 dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression). Each dimension has 5 response levels (no, slight, moderate, severe or extreme problems) resp. coded from 1 to 5. The EuroQol-visual analogue scale records the overall health on a vertical visual analogue scale (0 to 100). Example: a response of 77 is coded 77. A higher score indicates a better health status).

Differences in health-related quality of life outcome measures (primary outcome 4) between Maastricht University Medical Center+ and Radboud University Medical Center. HRQoL expressed as mean total/domain scores on the Basal and Squamous Cell Carcinoma QoL (BaSQoL) questionnaire.

The BaSQoL consist of 5 scales: behaviour, diagnosis/treatment, worries, appearance and other people. Items are scored: 0 (not at all), 1 (a little), 2 (quite a bit), 3 (very much). An average score per scale will be calculated (the sum of all scores within one scale, divided by the number of items) resulting in a scale score of 0 to 3. A higher score indicates a higher influence of skin cancer on daily life.

Differences in satisfaction with care outcome measures (primary outcome 5) between Maastricht University Medical Center+ and Radboud University Medical Center. Satisfaction with care expressed as mean total and domain scores on the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 (patient satisfaction) questionnaire.

The EORTC IN-PATSAT32 is composed of 11 multi-item scales (including doctors' and nurses' interpersonal skills, technical skills, information provision and availability, and other hospital personnel kindness/helpfulness and information giving, waiting time and access) and 3 single item scales (including exchange of information, comfort/cleanliness and general satisfaction). All of the scales and single-item measures range in score from 0 to 100. A high scale score represents a high level of satisfaction with care.

The difference in HRQoL before and after treatment, expressed by mean total and domain scores on the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire.

The EQ-5D-5L consist of 5 dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression). Each dimension has 5 response levels (no, slight, moderate, severe or extreme problems) resp. coded from 1 to 5. The EuroQol-visual analogue scale records the overall health on a vertical visual analogue scale (0 to 100). Example: a response of 77 is coded 77. A higher score indicates a better health status).

Maastricht University Medical Center

The control arm receives standard oncology care, which includes routine symptom screening at every outpatient visit.

Symptom screening with Targeted Early Palliative Care (STEP)

Palliative care is defined as multidisciplinary care that increases quality of life (QOL) for patients with a life-threatening illness. Although it is known that patients with the most severe physical and psychological symptoms have the greatest need for palliative care, these patients are often not referred to palliative care services in a timely manner.

The investigators have developed a system called STEP (Symptom screening with Targeted Early Palliative care) that identifies patients with high symptom burden in order to offer them timely access to palliative care. The investigators are conducting a multi-center trial at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and Kingston General Hospital to compare STEP with usual symptom screening in medical oncology clinics.

Randomized controlled trials have shown that when patients with advanced cancer were referred early to specialized palliative care teams, they had improved QOL, symptom control, and greater satisfaction with their cancer care. Such routine specialized palliative care intervention, while effective, may be challenging to enact broadly with widespread shortages of palliative care physicians. STEP systematically identifies patients with the greatest need, using symptom screening at every outpatient visit, with triage and targeted referral to palliative care. This could reduce resource use while directing care to the most vulnerable.

Consenting patients from Breast, Lung, Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, and Gynecology medical oncology clinics will be assigned randomly either to receive STEP or to follow usual symptom screening. All patients will complete questionnaires measuring outcomes of QOL, symptom control, depression, and satisfaction with care at recruitment, 2, 4 and 6 months. The investigators will measure the impact of STEP on these outcomes, compared to screening alone.

Symptom Screening With Targeted Early Palliative Care (STEP) Versus Usual Care for Patients With Advanced Cancer

Symptom Screening With Targeted Early Palliative Care (STEP) Versus Usual Care for Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The FACT-G7 (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General 7 item) is a 7-item measure for quality of life that has been validated in patients with advanced cancer. Total score ranges from 0-28, higher scores indicate better quality of life.

Symptom control is measured by the 11-item ESAS-r-CS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System-revised plus constipation and trouble sleeping). ESAS total distress score ranges from 0-110, higher scores indicate worse symptom burden.

Depression is measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Total score ranges from 0-27, higher scores indicate worse depression.

Satisfaction with care is measured by the FAMCARE-P16 (Family Satisfaction with Cancer Scale modified for patients). Total score ranges from 16-80, higher scores indicate greater satisfaction with care.

Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Queen's University

Urinary Tract, Sexual Organs, and Pregnancy Conditions

Endometrial Neoplasms

Uterine Neoplasms

Genital Neoplasms, Female

Urogenital Neoplasms

Uterine Diseases

Genital Diseases, Female

Genital Diseases

Urogenital Diseases

Female Urogenital Diseases

Pregnancy Complications

Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications

reduced follow-up schedule: 4 follow-up visits, after 3, 12, 24 and 36 months

regular follow-up schedule according to the guideline, 10-13 visits during 5 years

In the intervention group, the follow-up schedule will be limited to four follow-up visits at 3, 12, 24 and 36 months, under the specific condition that patients have easy and prompt access to care (specialised nurse of gynaecologist) if symptoms or questions occur. The content of the follow-up visits will be similar for both groups.

Reduced follow-up schedule

Lonneke van de Poll-Franse, PhD

Roy Kruitwagen, PhD

Carien Creutzberg, PhD

Nicole Ezendam, PhD

Background: It has often been hypothesized that the frequency of follow-up for patients with early-stage endometrial cancer could be decreased. However, studies evaluating effects of a reduced follow-up schedule among this patient group are lacking.

Objective: Assess patient satisfaction and cost-effectiveness of a less frequent follow-up schedule compared to the schedule according to the Dutch guideline.

Study design: Dutch multicentre randomized controlled trial with a 5 year follow-up. Patients (n=282) are randomized in an intervention group with 4 follow-up visits during 3 years, and a control group with 10-13 follow-up visits during 5 years, according to the Dutch guideline. Patients are asked to fill out a questionnaire at baseline, 6, 12, 36 and 60 months. Patient inclusion will take two years (if 60% of the patients participate).

Outcomes: Primary: Patient satisfaction with follow-up care and cost-effectiveness.

Secondary: health care use, adherence to schedule, health-related quality of life, fear of recurrence, anxiety and depression, information provision, recurrence, survival

Patients: Stage 1A and 1B low-risk endometrial cancer patients, for whom adjuvant radiotherapy is not indicated

Statistics: linear regression analyses to assess differences in patient satisfaction with follow-up care between intervention and control group adjusted for potential pre-defined confounders.

Expected results: Patients in the intervention arm have a similar satisfaction with follow-up care and overall outcomes, but lower health care use and costs than patients in the control arm. No effects are expected on QALY differences (losses) and satisfaction, but the reduced schedule is expected to save 144.000 per year in the Netherlands.

ENdometrial Cancer SURvivors' Follow-up carE (ENSURE): Less is More?

ENdometrial Cancer SURvivors' Follow-up carE (ENSURE): Less is More? Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate Patient Satisfaction and Cost-effectiveness of a Reduced Follow-up Schedule

After ending the study and analysis of the data, data becomes available for use by other researchers via PROFILES registry, according to the their terms

assessed with the PSQIII questionnaire; analysed with a repeated mixed model as one overall outcome over all time points

Cost-effectiveness from the health care perspective using the EQ-5D

health care use is assessed from hospital charges, primary care physician and self-report; analysed with a repeated mixed model as one overall outcome over all time points

assessed with questionnaires: EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-EN24; analysed with a repeated mixed model as one overall outcome over all time points

assessed with questionnaire: IOCv2; analysed with a repeated mixed model as one overall outcome over all time points

assessed with questionnaire: BIPQ; analysed with a repeated mixed model as one overall outcome over all time points

assessed with questionnaire: HADS; analysed with a repeated mixed model as one overall outcome over all time points

assessed with questionnaire: EORTC-INFO25; analysed with a repeated mixed model as one overall outcome over all time points

assessed with structured interviews/questionnaires

In this study we will descriptively look at time till recurrence

Dutch Cancer Society

Leiden University Medical Center

Comprehensive Cancer Centre The Netherlands

Respiratory Tract (Lung and Bronchial) Diseases

Digestive System Diseases

Lung Neoplasms

Prostatic Neoplasms

Breast Neoplasms

Colorectal Neoplasms

Intestinal Neoplasms

Gastrointestinal Neoplasms

Digestive System Neoplasms

Gastrointestinal Diseases

Colonic Diseases

Intestinal Diseases

Rectal Diseases

Services from a Nurse Navigator

Kristine Kwekkeboom, PhD, RN

Sandra E Ward, PhD, RN

There is widespread anecdotal evidence that Cancer Nurse Navigators (CNNs) are highly valued by cancer patients, but no studies have evaluated the effects of CNNs on important patient-reported outcomes or indicators of quality of care. This study has two aims:

1. To assess the feasibility of studying the impact of Aurora CNN Program.
2. To pilot test the effects of CNN services on patient-reported outcomes and indicators of quality of care.

Effect of Cancer Nurse Navigators on Patient Outcomes

Pilot Test of the Effect of Cancer Nurse Navigators on Patient Outcomes

The Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) assesses quality of life.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network Distress Thermometer assesses level of distress.

The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale measures 32 common physical and psychological cancer-related symptoms.

This instrument measures 30 cancer-related irritants (hassles) commonly experienced by persons with cancer.

Study title	NCT ID	Conditions	Interventions	Eligibility	Organization
Symptom Screening With Targeted Early Palliative Care (STEP) for Patients With Advanced Cancer	NCT04044040	Cancer	Symptom screeni...	18 Years -	University Health Network, Toronto
Symptom Screening With Targeted Early Palliative Care (STEP) for Patients With Advanced Cancer	NCT04044040	Cancer	Symptom screeni...	18 Years -	University Health Network, Toronto
Decisional Conflicts, Health-related QoL and Satisfaction With Care in High-risk cSCC in the Head-neck Region	NCT05482880	Cutaneous Squam... Cutaneous Squam... Squamous Cell C... Squamous Cell C... Squamous Cell C... Squamous Cell C... Skin Cancer High-Risk Cance... Quality of Life Satisfaction, P...	Regular care wi...	18 Years -	Maastricht University Medical Center
Symptom Screening With Targeted Early Palliative Care (STEP) Versus Usual Care for Patients With Advanced Cancer	NCT03987906	Cancer	Symptom screeni...	18 Years -	University Health Network, Toronto
ENdometrial Cancer SURvivors' Follow-up carE (ENSURE): Less is More?	NCT02413606	Endometrial Can...	Reduced follow-...	-	Comprehensive Cancer Centre The Netherlands
Decisional Conflicts, Health-related QoL and Satisfaction With Care in High-risk cSCC in the Head-neck Region	NCT05482880	Cutaneous Squam... Cutaneous Squam... Squamous Cell C... Squamous Cell C... Squamous Cell C... Squamous Cell C... Skin Cancer High-Risk Cance... Quality of Life Satisfaction, P...	Regular care wi...	18 Years -	Maastricht University Medical Center
Decisional Conflicts, Health-related QoL and Satisfaction With Care in High-risk cSCC in the Head-neck Region	NCT05482880	Cutaneous Squam... Cutaneous Squam... Squamous Cell C... Squamous Cell C... Squamous Cell C... Squamous Cell C... Skin Cancer High-Risk Cance... Quality of Life Satisfaction, P...	Regular care wi...	18 Years -	Maastricht University Medical Center
Effect of Cancer Nurse Navigators on Patient Outcomes	NCT01902823	Lung Cancer Breast Cancer Colorectal Canc... Prostate Cancer	Services from a...	18 Years -	University of Wisconsin, Madison
Symptom Screening With Targeted Early Palliative Care (STEP) Versus Usual Care for Patients With Advanced Cancer	NCT03987906	Cancer	Symptom screeni...	18 Years -	University Health Network, Toronto

Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for satisfaction with care