EL CENTRO: Engaging Latinos in the Center of Cancer Treatment Options

EL CENTRO: Engaging Latinos in the Center of Cancer Treatment Options - RCT of Usual Chemotherapy Educational Tools Versus Investigational Chemotherapy Educational Tools

The objective of this study is to improve the chemotherapy decision making process for Latinos with advanced gastrointestinal cancers. In this study Latinos who are considering 1st line chemotherapy for newly diagnosed advanced colorectal or pancreatic cancer will be randomized to usual care or to usual care supplemented by a Spanish/English language multimedia chemotherapy educational intervention. Primary informal caregivers will also be invited to participate.

This research study is evaluating if a new set of educational materials will improve the treatment decision-making process for Latinos with advanced gastrointestinal cancers. This research study will involve about 154 patients and 154 caregivers.

There is growing evidence of racial/ethnic disparities in the quality of communication between oncologists and Latinos with cancer. These communication disparities are evidenced by gaps in Latino's understanding of their condition and treatment options, and by worse satisfaction with provider communication. Limited English proficiency and health literacy are very common among Latinos, yet few interventions have been developed to help Latino cancer patients better understand their condition and treatment options.

In this study the investigators have partnered with Latino patients, providers, and researchers to develop a Spanish/English language intervention aimed at better informing Latinos with advanced gastrointestinal cancers about the risks and benefits of their chemotherapy options. Specifically, the intervention consists of a dual language, regimen-specific suite of videos and booklets explaining the most common chemotherapy options used to treat advanced colorectal cancer and advanced pancreatic cancer. The videos feature Latino patients describing their experiences on treatment, as well as clinicians describing factual information about treatment risks, benefits, and alternatives.

In this study, self-identifying Hispanic/Latino patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, locally advanced and metastatic pancreatic cancer considering treatment with first line chemotherapy will be randomized to the usual care, or to usual care supplemented by access to the relevant chemotherapy educational materials. Caregivers will also be enrolled on the study. Participants will be surveyed at baseline, 2-weeks post-treatment initiation, 2-3 months post-treatment initiation, and 4-6 months post-treatment initiation regarding their understanding of chemotherapy risks and benefits, decisional conflict, and other metrics of informed decision-making.

Patient Inclusion Criteria:

• Self-identify as Hispanic/Latino

• Has been diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) OR locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) OR metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) AND is making a decision regarding treatment with 1st line palliative chemotherapy

• Treating oncologist has recommended consideration of one or more of the regimens for which we have developed chemotherapy educational (CEI) toolkits

  • For mCRC: FOLFOX, FOLFOX + bevacizumab, FOLFIRI, FOLFIRI + bevacizumab
  • For LAPC or mPC: FOLFIRINOX, Gemcitabine, or Gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel
  • Patients who are also considering treatment on a clinical trial of one of these regimens +/- an investigational agent would still be eligible, so long as the treating MD believes to the content of the CEI to be relevant to the trial regimen.

• Planning to receive treatment at the enrolling site

• Age ≥ 21

• English or Spanish proficient

Caregiver Inclusion Criteria:

• Caregivers of eligible patient participants
• Age ≥ 21
• English or Spanish proficient

Exclusion Criteria:

• For mCRC patients: Patients with oligometastatic disease who have a definitive plan for curative surgical resection are not eligible.
• Significant delirium/dementia as judged by the treating oncologist