Palliative Care in Improving Quality of Life and Symptoms in Patients With Stage III-IV Pancreatic or Ovarian Cancer

Integration of Palliative Care Planning in Pancreatic and Ovarian Cancers

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