The PACO Project: A Clinical Study of a PAtient COach Program in Vulnerable Lung Cancer Patients

The PACO Project: A Randomized Clinical Study of a PAtient COach Program in Vulnerable Lung Cancer Patients

The randomized trial evaluates whether assigning a patient coach to vulnerable lung cancer patients will empower these patients to participate in the treatment decision process, help patients navigate the health care system while undergoing treatment and adhere to cancer treatment and to recommendations for supportive care. Half of the participants will receive standard care and be offered a patient coach while the other half will receive standard care.

Having short education or living without a partner negatively influences lung cancer survival and low social position has been associated with higher risk of advanced stage of the lung cancer at diagnosis. Disparities exists in both curative and palliative intended treatment, even adjusted for performance status and comorbidity. Differences in stage, treatment and comorbidity at diagnosis explain most of the social inequality in lung cancer survival. Age disparities in favor of younger lung cancer patients has also been found in several studies showing that older patients do not receive the most optimal treatment although age by itself do not worsen efficacy or tolerance to combined induction and definitive treatment, radiation therapy or concurrent chemoradiation. Taken together these findings indicate that in order to reduce social inequality in lung cancer survival not only early detection should be improved but also efforts to ensure optimal treatment among lung cancer patients of low social position are needed. Survival observed in the most advantaged group of lung cancer patients should set the target for what is achievable for all lung cancer patients in Denmark.

In the present intervention the investigators bring navigation together with activation as a longitudinal intervention by assigning a patient coach to vulnerable lung cancer patients while undergoing treatment. The patient coach function will address patient barrier factors, provider factors and organizational factors through providing social support, practical assistance and linking with health personnel, which are the three main principles guiding the coach intervention. The intervention will target specific phases in the treatment trajectory, which include challenges to compliance: into treatment, maintaining treatment and finalizing treatment. The investigators will use patient coaches who are volunteers with health education to provide a support function that is affiliated to the patient. The investigators believe that assistance with navigating the system, communication with health staff and social support across care transitions will help patients to obtain best possible care Primary aim: optimal treatment depending on stage, histology and performance status Secondary aims: quality of life and symptoms, participation in self-management plans as smoking cessation, physical activity, dietary changes, and short-term survival.

The investigators expect that compared to the usual care group the intervention group will initiate and adhere more to optimal treatment according to stage and performance status. Further, compared to the usual care group the intervention group will report better quality of life, less symptoms related to disease and treatment, higher level of adherence to recommendations for smoking, diet and exercise and better survival.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer or small cell lung cancer
• Referred for further treatment at the oncology ward OR
• Must either 1) Live alone (irrespective of education) or 2) Have no formal education beyond secondary school, or 3) Have one or more comorbidities, or 4) a performance status of 1-2, or 5) be more than 65 years old at time of inclusion.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Dementia
• Being institutionalized
• No proficiency of Danish