Study was not funded

This randomized clinical trial studies palliative care in improving quality of life and symptoms in patients with stage III-IV pancreatic or ovarian cancer. Palliative therapy may help patients with advanced pancreatic or ovarian cancer live more comfortably.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Test the effects of a concurrent palliative care planning intervention (PCPI) on overall quality of life (QOL) and symptom burden.

II. Test the effects of a concurrent PCPI on anxiety and depression. III. Test the effects of a concurrent PCPI on overall survival. IV. Test the effects of a concurrent PCPI on health care resource use.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Patients undergo a comprehensive physical, psychological, social, and spiritual palliative care assessment. Patients also receive a workbook that covers physical and psychological well-being and social and spiritual well-being, delivered over 2 educational sessions.

ARM II: Patients receive standard care plus attention comprising two telephone contacts.

After completion of study, patients are followed up at 1, 3, and 6 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis of pancreatic or ovarian cancer
• Confirmed stage III or IV disease
• Patients who are within one year from initial diagnosis
• Able to read or understand English-this is included because most of the patient-reported outcome measures are not validated in linguistically diverse populations; the intent is to adapt and test the intervention in a future study with linguistically diverse populations
• Ability to read and/or understand the study protocol requirements, and provide written informed consent