Telephone-Based Coaching Sessions (TAC) to Improve Advance Care Planning Participation in Advanced Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers

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

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

80 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2026-04-01

Study Completion Date

2026-12-14

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This clinical trial studies whether telephone-based coaching sessions, Talking About Cancer (TAC), work to improve engagement in advance care planning (ACP) in patients with cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced) and their caregivers. Participation in ACP, which includes having end of life (EOL) care conversations and completing advance directives (e.g., living will, health care proxy, do not resuscitate order), improves quality EOL care. Despite this, less than half of patients with advanced cancer have EOL care conversations or complete advance directives. TAC coaching sessions are delivered by a social worker over the phone. They are designed to help patients and their caregivers communicate about ACP, manage the distress these conversations can cause, and participate in the process of ACP with a clear action plan of having goals-of-care conversations and completing advance directives. This may be an effective way to improve ACP participation in advanced cancer patients and their caregivers.

Related Clinical Trials

Explore similar clinical trials based on study characteristics and research focus.

Patient-centered and Efficacious Advance Care Planning in Cancer: the PEACe Comparative Effectiveness Trial

NCT03824158

Cancer Advance Care Planning

COMPLETED NA

Advance Care Planning: Promoting Effective and Aligned Communication in the Elderly

NCT03609177

Other Cancer

COMPLETED NA

Testing an Educational Program to Improve Goals of Care Conversations Between Patients and Their Care Teams

NCT07278739

Malignant Solid Neoplasm

NOT_YET_RECRUITING NA

Design and Testing of a Web-Based Tool for the Improvement of End-of-Life Planning in Patients With Advanced Cancer

NCT05564468

Hematopoietic and Lymphoid System Neoplasm Locally Advanced Malignant Solid Neoplasm Metastatic Malignant Solid Neoplasm

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING NA

Taking Care of Her Program in Patients With Stage III or IV Ovarian Cancer and Spouse Caregivers

NCT02401321

Caregiver Stage IIIA Ovarian Cancer Stage IIIB Ovarian Cancer +2 more

COMPLETED NA

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I: Participants attend Talking About Cancer (TAC) telephone-based coaching sessions (2 sessions) designed to support participants in communicating about advance care planning (ACP), managing distress around ACP conversations, engaging in the process of ACP, and completing advance directives over 45-60 minutes each once a week (QW) for 2 weeks.

ARM II: Participants receive an ACP brochure/handout on study.

After completion of study intervention, participants are followed up at 6- and 12-weeks post-randomization.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Advanced Malignant Solid Neoplasm Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Caregivers

The study project coordinator will oversee randomization and the research coordinator conducting assessments will remain blind to the condition to which the participant is assigned.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Arm I (TAC sessions)

Participants attend Talking About Cancer (TAC) telephone-based coaching sessions (2 sessions) designed to support participants in communicating about advance care planning (ACP), managing distress around ACP conversations, engaging in the process of ACP, and completing advance directives over 45-60 minutes each once a week (QW) for 2 weeks.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Supportive Care

Intervention Type OTHER

Attend TAC telephone-based coaching sessions

Telephone-Based Intervention

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Attend TAC telephone-based coaching sessions

Survey Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Arm II (enhanced usual care)

Participants receive an ACP brochure/handout on study.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Survey Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Educational Intervention

Intervention Type OTHER

Receive an ACP brochure/handout

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Supportive Care

Attend TAC telephone-based coaching sessions

Intervention Type OTHER

Telephone-Based Intervention

Attend TAC telephone-based coaching sessions

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Survey Administration

Ancillary studies

Intervention Type OTHER

Educational Intervention

Receive an ACP brochure/handout

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

Supportive Therapy Symptom Management Therapy, Supportive Education for Intervention Intervention by Education Intervention through Education Intervention, Educational

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* PATIENT: Current diagnosis of stage III or IV cancer
* PATIENT: Able to provide informed consent
* PATIENT: Fluent in English or Spanish
* PATIENT: Have access to a telephone or computer with internet access
* CAREGIVER: Person patient indicates provides support
* CAREGIVER: English or Spanish speaking
* CAREGIVER: 18 years of age or older
* CAREGIVER: Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

* PATIENT: Too ill or weak to complete the interviews (as judged by the interviewer)
* PATIENT: Receiving hospice at the time of enrollment
* PATIENT: Younger than age 18

Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes