A Chaplain-clinician Led Spiritual Care (PEACE) Intervention on Spiritual/Religious Beliefs Related to Medical Care in Patients With Advanced Cancer: a Pilot Clinical Trial

A Chaplain-clinician Led Spiritual Care (PEACE) Intervention on Spiritual/Religious Beliefs Related to Medical Care in Patients With Advanced Cancer: a Pilot Clinical Trial

To examine the feasibility and acceptability of chaplain-clinician led spiritual care (PEACE: Perception, Exploring, Addressing, Compassionate Connection, Embracing) intervention in patients with advanced cancer.

Primary Objectives

(Phase 1): To examine the feasibility and acceptability of a Chaplain-Clinician led spiritual care (PEACE: Perception, Exploring, Addressing, Compassionate Connection, Embracing) intervention in patients with advanced cancer admitted to a comprehensive cancer center in a single-arm pilot trial. Evaluation of feasibility will be per ≥70% participation in all sessions.

Acceptability will be assessed as ≥70% reporting satisfaction and ≥70% recommending PEACE intervention to others at the post-treatment assessment.

(Phase 2): To examine the within-group change in the influence of spiritual/religious beliefs on medical care (Question 2 in the Religious Beliefs in End-of-Life Medical Care [RBEC] tool: I will accept every possible medical treatment because my faith tells me to do everything I can to stay alive longer) from baseline to post-intervention assessments at 2 + 1 days in participants who participate in the PEACE intervention group and the usual care group.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Participants with advanced cancer (locally advanced, metastatic, recurrent, or incurable) seen by the participant supportive/palliative care mobile team at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
2. Respond "somewhat to A great deal" to the question in the RBEC questionnaire "I will accept every possible medical treatment because my faith tells me to do everything I can to stay alive longer".
3. Participant s aged 18 years or over.
4. Karnofsky performance status ≥30% at time of inclusion into study.
5. Normal cognitive status as determined by the supportive care clinicians based on the ability to understand the nature of the study and consent process.
6. Only English-speaking, as determined by their ability to understand the informed consent, the intervention, and the assessment tools.