Patient Perceptions of the Relational Empathy of Healthcare Practitioners From the Department of Emergency Medicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic

NCT ID: NCT05102656

Last Updated: 2025-11-17

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

107 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-06-02

Study Completion Date

2027-02-02

Brief Summary

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This study investigates patients' perceptions of their doctor's or nurse's empathy during an in-person interaction with the doctor or nurse wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) compared to during a video interaction with the doctor or nurse without PPE. The goal of this research study is to learn whether patients who visit the Acute Cancer Care Center at MD Anderson believe they get better (more empathetic) care from doctors who visit them in person wearing PPE or from doctors who visit them by video call and do not wear PPE.

Detailed Description

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PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To determine whether patients perceive their healthcare practitioner as more empathetic during an in-person interaction with the practitioner wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), or during a video interaction without the need for PPE.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess whether certain physicians perform better with video whereas others perform better in person.

II. To characterize generational differences in patient perception of healthcare practitioner empathy during an in person interaction with the practitioner wearing PPE, or during a video interaction without the need for PPE.

OUTLINE: After initial visit, patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups.

GROUP A (NO PPE): Patients receive standard of care via video call with treating physician.

GROUP B (WEARING PPE): Patients receive standard of care in-person physician visits.

Conditions

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COVID-19 Infection Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Cell Neoplasm Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Group A (video call)

Patients receive standard of care via video call with treating physician.

Group Type OTHER

Discussion

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Physician conversations occur via video call

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Group B (in-person)

Patients receive standard of care in-person physician visits.

Group Type OTHER

Best Practice

Intervention Type OTHER

Physician conversations occur in-person

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Interventions

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Best Practice

Physician conversations occur in-person

Intervention Type OTHER

Discussion

Physician conversations occur via video call

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Questionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

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standard of care standard therapy Discuss

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* \>= 18 years old
* Able to speak and write in English
* Able to understand and willing to sign a written informed consent document
* Willing and able to complete the study assessment(s)

Exclusion Criteria

* Refuses to participate
* Too ill to participate, in the estimation of the patient's physician
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Kumar Alagappan

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Locations

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M D Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

Related Links

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http://www.mdanderson.org

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Other Identifiers

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NCI-2021-10960

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2020-1298

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

2020-1298

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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