End of life care Other
Conditions
Interventions
Firstly, the trialists will ensure that everyone understands it is legal for carers to give symptom-relieving injections to dying patients as long as they are supported to do so. A time-tested educat
Sponsors
Bangor University
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Dyads of dying patients and their home-based carers 2. Adult patients in the last weeks of life 3. Who are likely to use the oral route for medication 4. Have expressed a preference to die at home 5. Have a family carer who is over 18 6. Carer is willing to have this extended role 7. Carer is willing to have subcutaneous injection training
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Patient or carer is under 18 2. Patient or carer not willing to entertain concept of lay carer administering subcutaneous medication 3. Patient or carer has a known history of substance abuse 4. Patient has had previous known adverse reactions to substance meds 5. Clinician judges that risk assessment criteria are not met for a dyad
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| As this is a feasibility trial, one of the goals is to establish the best primary and secondary outcome measures. The most likely candidates for primary outcome measures for a future definitive trial are: 1. Overall symptom burden/distress in the last 7 days of life, measured using the Family MSAS-GDI?A either after the patient’s death or amended for use on a daily basis 2. Quality of life of carers, incorporating elements of control and self-efficacy, measured using QOLLTI-F by a research nurse every 48 hours | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Time to symptom relief, calculated using data items from the Carer Diary, collected from the carer after the patient has died | — |
Countries
United Kingdom, Wales
Contacts
Public ContactClare Wilkinson
Outcome results
None listed