Advanced Cancer
Conditions
Keywords
end stage, Terminally Ill
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to develop an accurate and useful way of measuring patients' thoughts and feelings about hope and hopelessness as they relate to their illness. Doctors and psychologists from Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Calvary Hospital, the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, and Fordham University are working together to design a new measure. Findings from this research will help us study the nature of illness and develop improved methods of diagnosis and treatment. We hope what we learn from you will help us learn more about how to care better for patients with cancer and other severe illnesses.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALquestionnaires
A battery of questionnaires concerning your thoughts, opinions, and attitudes about your illness and outlook on life. In addition, we will ask to provide some background information about you and your illness. The questions will take approximately 30 to 45 minutes to complete. You fill out the questionnaire once only.
Sponsors
Fordham University
Calvary Hospital, Bronx, NY
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Australia
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Study design
Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* 18 years of age or older. * Patients who are able to understand verbal and written English. * Diagnosis of cancer. * Patients with advanced cancer receiving ambulatory or inpatient care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Patients at Calvary Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre admitted for palliative care will also be eligible for participation in this study
Exclusion criteria
* The presence of a psychotic mental disorder (e.g., Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, Schizo-affective illness, psychosis due to substance abuse) as indicated in medical chart. * Cognitive impairment so severe (i.e., Mini-Mental State exam score of less than 20) that, in the opinion of the Principal Investigator or Project Coordinator, would interfere with a patient's ability to give informed consent for research.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| To develop a brief self-report measure of hopelessness grounded in the construct of hopelessness as it applies to terminally ill cancer patients. | conclusion of study |
| To explore and better understand the construct of hopelessness as it applies to terminally ill cancer patients. | conclusion of study |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| To establish the reliability and validity of this newly developed measure of hopelessness in a large sample of terminally ill cancer patients. | conclusion of study |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed