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Advance Care Planning; an Innovative Palliative Care Intervention to Improve Quality of Life in Cancer Patients - a Multi-Centre Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial

Objective

Advanced cancer typically involves multiple symptoms and seriously affects patients´ quality of life. Anxiety and depression are common. Medical care for patients with advanced cancer should be aimed at symptom control, psychosocial support, spiritual needs, and practical issues. Patients’ preferences regarding care should be central. Open and respectful communication are of key importance, but have been found to be a challenge for health care professionals as well as patients and relatives. Advance care planning (ACP) is a formalised process of communication between patients, relatives and caregivers about patients’ care preferences. It raises awareness of the need to anticipate future deterioration of health. ACP can improve current and future health care decision making, provide patients with a sense of control, increase adequate symptom control and improve quality of life.
This project aims to study the effects of formalized ACP on symptom burden and quality of life of patients with advanced cancer. In a phase III multicentre cluster randomized controlled trial at least 20 hospitals in 6 countries will be randomized to provide patients with advanced cancer with either ACP or ‘care as usual’. 1334 patients diagnosed with lung or stage IV colorectal cancer will be included. Patients will fill in questionnaires at inclusion, and at 2.5 and 4.5 months post-inclusion. A relative will fill in a questionnaire after the patient’s death. Use of medical care will be assessed through medical files. Primary endpoints are quality of life (QLQ-C30 emotional functioning) and symptoms at 2.5 months post-inclusion. Secondary endpoints are the extent to which care as received was in line with patients’ preferences, patients’ evaluation of the decision making process, quality of dying and cost-effectiveness of the intervention. Our project will assess the impact of ACP on quality of life, and contribute to improving comfort and quality of care for patients with advanced cancer.

Call for proposal

FP7-HEALTH-2013-INNOVATION-1
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Coordinator

ERASMUS UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM ROTTERDAM
Address
Dr Molewaterplein 40
3015 GD Rotterdam
Netherlands

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
J.Th.N. Koos Lubbe (Mr.)
EU contribution
€ 1 573 657

Participants (7)

UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM UTRECHT
Netherlands
EU contribution
€ 306 000
Address
Heidelberglaan 100
3584 CX Utrecht

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Hans Van Delden (Prof.)
VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL
Belgium
EU contribution
€ 658 602
Address
Pleinlaan 2
1050 Brussel

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Nik Claesen (Mr.)
ISTITUTO PER LO STUDIO E LA PREVENZIONE E LA RETE ONCOLOGICA
Italy
EU contribution
€ 511 225
Address
Via Cosimo Il Vecchio 2
50139 Firenze

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Activity type
Other
Administrative Contact
Guido Miccinesi (Dr.)
THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM
United Kingdom
EU contribution
€ 386 208
Address
University Park
NG7 2RD Nottingham

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Paul Cartledge (Mr.)
UNIVERSITY OF LANCASTER
United Kingdom
EU contribution
€ 364 500
Address
Bailrigg
LA1 4YW Lancaster

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Roderick O'brien (Mr.)
UNIVERZITETNA KLINIKA ZA PLJUCNE BOLEZNI IN ALERGIJO GOLNIK
Slovenia
EU contribution
€ 496 864
Address
Golnik 36
4204 Golnik

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Lea Ulcnik (Mrs.)
KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET
Denmark
EU contribution
€ 487 600
Address
Norregade 10
1165 Kobenhavn

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Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Administrative Contact
Bjarne Friis Ploumark (Mr.)