Understanding Communication in Healthcare to Achieve Trust (U-CHAT) (NCT02846038) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Understanding Communication in Healthcare to Achieve Trust (U-CHAT)
United States138 participantsStarted 2016-09-09
Plain-language summary
Honest, clear, and empathetic communication between pediatric oncologists (POs) and parents of children with cancer (POCCs) is imperative to facilitating therapeutic alliance and ensuring that medical management aligns with the families' goals of care. Communication is particularly important during conversations about disease reevaluation, which often necessitate parental decision-making in the context of emotional distress. POs employ a spectrum of communication styles and strategies during challenging conversations, and there is no consensus regarding linguistic or thematic metrics for high quality communication of upsetting information. In order to better understand how POs communicate difficult information to POCCs, the investigators propose a pilot study designed to accomplish the following primary aim:
Primary Objective:
* To identify recurrent verbal and nonverbal (e.g. the use of pauses/silence) communication techniques employed by POs in the delivery of difficult prognostic information to POCCs through content analysis of audio-recorded conversations between POs and parents of children with high risk cancer at the time of disease reevaluation.
The study expects to enroll up to: 80 patient participants, 80 parents, and 15 primary pediatric oncologists (total = 175).
Non-primary oncologist members of the clinical care team, extended family members, or friends of the family may also participate, if they choose to do so.
Who can participate
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria - Primary Oncologist:
* Primary oncologist is an attending physician (age 18+) who provides medical care to patients in the outpatient Solid Tumor or Neuro-Oncology clinics at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
* Primary hematology-oncology fellows (age 18+) who follow patients along with the primary oncologist will be eligible to participate in audio-recorded disease reevaluation conversations (and fellow contributions will be distinguished from primary oncologist contributions); however, they will not be eligible to complete post-conversation surveys nor semi-structured interviews.
Inclusion Criteria - Parents of Children with Cancer:
* Caregiver is 18 years of age or older.
* Caregiver is related to the patient in one of the following ways: biological parent, stepparent, or primary legal guardian.
* If more than 1 set of parents are involved, the caregiver with legal decision-making responsibilities will be eligible for participation.
* Caregiver is comfortable speaking and reading English.
Inclusion Criteria - Patients:
* Patient's primary oncologist is enrolled in this study.
* Patient (age ≤30 years) has been diagnosed with either a solid tumor and/or a brain tumor.
* Patient's primary pediatric oncologist documents or reports his/her impression that patient's likelihood of cure is 50% or less.
* Patient is projected to have ≥ 2 future time points of disease reevaluations, as documented in the electronic medical record (EMR) and/or confirmed …
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Number of communication styles employed
Timeframe: From first patient visit for disease reevaluation through up to 24 months