None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Patients with glioblastoma have particular needs that distinguish them from other patients with cancer, as they also have neurological issues that can affect them physically, cognitively and psychologically. This in turn produces significant burdens on their carers. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of having brain tumour nurses visit patients at home. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are aged 18 years or older, you have been diagnosed with a glioblastoma, and you are well enough to undergo combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment. Study details Participants who choose to enrol in this study will be randomly allocated by chance (similar to flipping a coin) to one of two groups. Participants who are allocated to the first group will have brain tumour nurses visit them at home every 2-4 weeks. This may increase over time as the needs of participants and their carers change. During the at home visits, nurses will assess the participant and carers needs and act as a point of contact to address any issues that may arise. Occupational therapists will assist in assessing the needs of these patients and providing the necessary equipment to enable them to remain safely at home. Participants who are allocated to the second group will continue to receive their usual care from their oncologist but will not receive at home visits from a brain tumour nurse or occupational therapist. These participants will be able to request additional assistance and equipment from the hospital if needed, but they will not have any at home visits as part of their involvement in the study. Participants in both groups will be asked to fill in forms to assess their symptoms. Participants who have the nurses visit them at home will be asked to attend one-on-one interviews with a member of the research team to provide their feedback on the care they have received. It is hoped this research will show whether providing at home care options to patients with glioblastoma has a positive impact upon their quality of life and reduces the need for hospital admission compared to usual care practices. If this study does show a positive impact of the at home visits, a larger trial involving a greater number of glioblastoma patients may be undertaken to further investigate this method of care.
Interventions
The study will examine the effect of having brain tumour nurses visit patients with glioblastoma and their carers at home.
The home visits will commence after the patient has been informed of their biopsy results and treatment plan. The visits will initially occur every 2 to 4 weeks, but as the patient's illness progresses and as the needs of the patients and their carers increase, the nurses may visit the patient two to three times a week. Each visit is for approximately one hour. The duratio
The study will examine the effect of having brain tumour nurses visit patients with glioblastoma and their carers at home. The home visits will commence after the patient has been informed of their biopsy results and treatment plan. The visits will initially occur every 2 to 4 weeks, but as the patient's illness progresses and as the needs of the patients and their carers increase, the nurses may visit the patient two to three times a week. Each visit is for approximately one hour. The duration may be longer depending on the patient’s needs. At each visit (or when a phone call is made to the nurses by the patient or their carer) their needs will be assessed to determine the appropriate frequency of nursing visits. The home visits will be done for the duration of the study (18 months from commencement of the study). The nurses provide supportive care, assessment, monitoring, intervention and care planning. They will liaise with the occupational therapist concerning the patient’s needs, for example, requiring equipment from the Cabrini Neuro-Oncology equipment bank. The patient’s and carers’ adherence to the intervention initiated by the nurses will be monitored at the next nursing visit and their next outpatient clinic appointment. The occupational therapists will visit if the nurses assess that there are safety issues at home arising from their neurological or cognitive deficits. Their visits are for approximately one hour. The frequency of visits will depend on the needs of the patients, but typically they will visit on only one occasion. The patient’s and carers’ adherence to the intervention initiated by the occupational therapist will be monitored at the next nursing visit and their next outpatient clinic appointment.
Sponsors
Monash Medical Centre
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
patients with a newly diagnosed glioblastoma who are well enough to undergo standard treatment of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy
Exclusion criteria
patients who are not well enough to undergo standard treatment of combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy
Outcome results
None listed