Primary Palliative Care - a Feasibility Cluster Trial (NCT07737899) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Primary Palliative Care - a Feasibility Cluster Trial
Portugal30 participantsStarted 2026-10-01
Plain-language summary
This feasibility cluster-controlled randomized trial (RCT) evaluates a complex intervention for the delivery of primary palliative care in Family Health Units (FHUs). The intervention consists of training General Practitioners (GPs) in palliative care through a 30 hour e-learning program and implementing a structured consultation model (4 consultations over 12 weeks) for adult patients with advanced chronic illness. One FHU will receive the intervention and one FHU will follow usual care. The primary goal is to assess feasibility metrics (GP adherence, patient recruitment rate, and patient retention rate), which will inform the design of a subsequent full-scale cluster RCT.
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:
* Aged 18 years or older.
* Enrolled as a patient on the list of a recruited General Practitioner in one of the participating Family Health Units.
* Diagnosed with one or more of the following advanced chronic conditions:
* Advanced-stage neoplasm (metastatic/stage IV cancer);
* Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - GOLD classification III or IV;
* Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) - New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional classification III or IV;
* Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) - stage IV or V.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Refusal to provide informed consent or to participate in the study at any point.
* Disease severity requiring urgent medical intervention (acute crisis/emergency care need at time of recruitment).
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.
1This trial is focused on delivering palliative care through GPs rather than specialist teams — does that model make sense for my specific situation with advanced cancer or my serious illness, or would a referral to a dedicated palliative care specialist be a better fit for me right now?
2Since this trial is still listed as 'not yet recruiting,' how soon do you think it might open, and what options exist for getting palliative care support in the meantime?
3This study is measuring whether GPs can feasibly implement primary palliative care — meaning it's testing whether the approach even works in practice rather than proving it improves outcomes — so what does that mean for what I could actually expect to receive if I were to take part?
4My condition is one of several being included, such as advanced cancer, COPD, heart failure, or chronic kidney disease — does the palliative care support offered in this trial address the specific challenges of my diagnosis, or is it fairly general across all those conditions?
5Given that this is a feasibility trial at an early stage, would standard palliative care referrals already available to me offer more certainty about what support I'd receive compared to joining a study that is still testing whether the model is practical?
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
GP Feasibility Rate (Implementation Rate)
Timeframe: 12 weeks (from start of intervention to end of consultation cycle - Week 12 / T2)