Cancer
Conditions
Keywords
Outcomes, Cancer, Radiotherapy, Socio-economic
Brief summary
A study to see if coordinated aggressive patient management will improve patient treatment outcomes and is cost effective.
Detailed description
This is an observational study of the effects of aggressive patient management. The records of 50 patients treated under the aggressive management plan will be matched with the records of 50 previous patients and attempts made to assess the improvement, if any, found. Statistical analysis will compare the outcomes of the study group and the matched control group for initial completion of planned therapy as per prescription, weight loss during therapy, intercurrent illness, and intercurrent hospitalizations. Long term analysis will compare the study group's outcomes (compared to expected outcomes) compared to the matched control group.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALPatient management
Aggressive patient management will be implemented by a corps of patient manager volunteers backed by a transportation, nutrition, and social services network. The social services professionals will work with the volunteers to establish the support needed for each patient. The volunteer managers will in turn constantly monitor that such support is addressing the patient's ability to be treated. Access to sponsored housing will be coordinated. Nutritional support will be coordinated by the Dietary department and will consist of counseling, and supplements when necessary. Provision of supplemental feeding for housed patients will be arranged.
Sponsors
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Study design
Observational model
CASE_CONTROL
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* live 45 minutes from treatment facility * family income less than 200% federal poverty guideline
Exclusion criteria
* none
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| To test effects of intensive patient management on patient's compliance with referral and subsequent treatment protocol. | 1 year |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| To test if increased compliance results in better therapy outcomes and fewer complications of the disease process as evidenced by increased survival and fewer intercurrent hospitalizations. | 1 year |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed