Improving Communication With Patients With Breast Cancer

Overview

RATIONALE: An education program based on patients' health communication needs may improve patients' overall healthcare experience and sense of control. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying the health communication needs of patients with breast cancer to develop patient education programs.

Full Title of Study: “Facilitating Caring Communication for People With Cancer: The Case of Breast Cancer”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: N/A
    • Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
    • Masking: None (Open Label)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: November 2006

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES: – Determine patients' health communication needs during the first 6 months of care by interviewing patients with breast cancer (as well as their families, caregivers, and healthcare teams) and observing interactions between patients and oncologists throughout the trajectory of care from initial diagnosis through the initial treatment course. – Determine patients' health communication needs at the point of bone metastases by interviewing patients with breast cancer (as well as their families, caregivers, and healthcare teams) and observing interactions between patients and oncologists in the Hematology-Oncology Clinic. – Develop Patient Education Programs to help meet patients' health communication needs by conveying information about essential elements of cancer care in a clear and consistent manner, thus allowing clinicians to focus more attention on answering questions, engaging in counseling, and responding to emotional issues. – Create a Patient Education Program that models effective strategies for asking questions and expressing concerns and needs for symptom control (i.e., pain, anxiety, depression). – Develop Patient Narrative Videos, with women identified by their providers, to provide members of the healthcare team with a better understanding of the patient experience and issues that arise for patients outside the formal health care setting. – Conduct a pilot test to determine whether the Patient Education Programs affect patients' experience of care, sense of control, and perceptions of caring communication, as well as knowledge, satisfaction, anxiety, depression, pain, and self-reported health. – Determine patient and family response to Patient Narrative Videos and healthcare team response to Patient Narrative Videos and Patient Education Programs. OUTLINE: This is a pilot, multicenter study. A visit between the patient and his/her oncologist and healthcare team is videorecorded. Patients, family members, caregivers, and healthcare team members then undergo a 10-minute interview. Patients then undergo a 5-minute follow-up interview once every 2 weeks for 6 months. Some patients may participate in a one-time group discussion. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 120 patients will be accrued for this study.

Interventions

  • Other: communication intervention
    • Patient Education Programs to include surveys, questionnaires, interviews, and videos.

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Effect of Patient Education Programs on patient experience
    • Time Frame: At baseline and at 2 month follow-up

Participating in This Clinical Trial

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Diagnosis of breast cancer PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: – Patients: 30 to 80 years of age – Family members: 20 to 80 years of age – Healthcare team members: 20 to 80 years of age – Must be conversant in English PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: – Not specified

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 30 Years

Maximum Age: 80 Years

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Northwestern University
  • Collaborator
    • National Cancer Institute (NCI)
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Sponsor
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Gregory Makoul, PhD, Study Chair, Robert H. Lurie Cancer Center

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