Feasibility Testing of a Hospice Family Caregiver Intervention to Improve Patient Dyspnea Care

NCT ID: NCT02441868

Last Updated: 2018-05-03

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 7 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2015-10-15
• Study Completion Date: 2018-04-30

Brief Summary

This study is a pilot test of an intervention to train family caregivers of home hospice patients about recognizing and treating shortness of breath.

Detailed Description

Shortness of breath is a prevalent symptom causing distress among patients at the end of life. In home hospice care family caregivers are expected to assist their family member with symptom management. This is often accomplished with little or no training.

The investigators have developed a bundle of training materials targeted for family caregivers of home hospice patients at risk for shortness of breath. The investigators will pilot test the intervention in this clinical trial. A future randomized clinical trial is planned and the evidence from this pilot will enhance the planning of that future trial.

Conditions

Dyspnea

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Intervention

all participants will receive the training

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Shortness of breath recognition and treatment

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Hospice registered nurses will train family caregivers about how to recognize patient shortness of breath. This training will employ a guided learning tool the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale-Family. Training will be done with a DVD and return demonstration of the skills using the patient. In addition, the family will be taught the bundle of evidence-based interventions to treat shortness of breath.

Interventions

Shortness of breath recognition and treatment

Hospice registered nurses will train family caregivers about how to recognize patient shortness of breath. This training will employ a guided learning tool the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale-Family. Training will be done with a DVD and return demonstration of the skills using the patient. In addition, the family will be taught the bundle of evidence-based interventions to treat shortness of breath.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patient in home hospice care with an estimated survival of 3-4 weeks, at risk for dyspnea secondary to lung cancer, COPD, or heart failure.
• Family caregiver in patient's home must speak and read English.

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with bulbar ALS or quadriplegia.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Wayne State University

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Margaret Campbell

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Margaret L. Campbell, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Wayne State University

Locations

Angela Hospice

Livonia, Michigan, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

RDOS-Family

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id