CompletedNot Applicable

Family-Supported Palliative Care in Advanced Lung Cancer

China110 participantsStarted 2024-01-01

Plain-language summary

This study aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and ethical implications of a family-supported palliative care model in patients with advanced lung cancer. A single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted, in which 110 eligible patients were randomly assigned to either a routine nursing care group or a family-supported palliative care group for an 8-week intervention period. The intervention integrates structured family involvement, palliative care education, shared decision-making support, psychological counseling, symptom management, and nutritional guidance. The primary outcome is quality of life assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L). Secondary outcomes include decisional conflict (DCS), hope level (HHI), anxiety and depression (SAS/SDS), nutritional indicators (albumin and prealbumin), and pain- and inflammation-related biomarkers (substance P, prostaglandin E2, dopamine, and C-reactive protein). This study seeks to determine whether structured family engagement can improve patient-centered outcomes, reduce decisional conflict, enhance psychological well-being, and support ethically sound shared decision-making in the context of advanced cancer care.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

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: * Pathologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced lung cancer (stage III-IV or limited prognosis). * Age ≥ 18 years. * Receiving initial or first-line systemic treatment. * Fully informed of the diagnosis, with normal cognitive function and ability to communicate effectively. * Able to complete questionnaires and assessments. * Provided written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Prior exposure to more than one line of systemic antitumor therapy. * Severe cognitive impairment or diagnosed psychiatric disorders affecting compliance. * Severe comorbid conditions (cardiac, hepatic, or renal dysfunction) with life expectancy \< 3 months. * Conditions that may interfere with outcome assessment, such as active infection or systemic inflammatory diseases.

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

Change in Quality of Life Measured by Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L)

Timeframe: Baseline to 8 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07490639

SponsorShanxi Province Cancer Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-02-20

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Advanced Lung Cancer trials