Cachexia, Depression, Pain, Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific
Conditions
Keywords
depression, cachexia, pain, unspecified adult solid tumor, protocol specific
Brief summary
RATIONALE: A computer-based system for assessing symptoms may be effective for patients with metastatic or advanced cancer. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is studying how well computerized questionnaires work in assessing symptoms, pain, depression, and physical function in patients with metastatic and/or advanced local/regional cancer.
Detailed description
OBJECTIVES: * Determine the feasibility of applying a computer-based system for symptom assessment and classification in palliative cancer care in patients with metastatic and/or advanced cancer. * Examine hypothesized differences across groups related to acceptance of computers (i.e., age, culture, stage of disease, cognitive and physical function, etc.). * Examine the general user-friendliness of the tool. * Test and validate the performance of selected domains and items for classification and assessment of pain and cachexia. * Explore the validity of domains and items for depression. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. All patients undergo computer-based assessments of general symptoms by the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ C30) questionnaires and assessment of physical function, appetite/weight loss, and depression by the Brief Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PRIME-MD PHQ9). Patients who score ≥ 1 (on a 0-10 numerical rating score) on the pain screening question with or without occurrence of breakthrough pain (BTP), undergo the Alberta BTP Assessment tool assessing precipitating factors for pain, time to pain relief after intake of medication, and satisfaction with medication. Patients complete questions regarding user-friendliness and feasibility of using the computer at the end of their session.
Interventions
symptom assessment
OTHERquestionnaire administration
Symptom assessment
PROCEDUREassessment of therapy complications
Symptom assessment
PROCEDUREquality-of-life assessment
Symptom assessment
Sponsors
Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Diagnosis of incurable cancer, including patients receiving life-prolonging treatment * Metastatic and/or advanced locoregional disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * Able to provide written informed consent * Fluent in the language used at the study site PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * No prior inclusion in this study
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Feasibility of applying a computer based system for symptom assessment and classification in palliative cancer care | Sept 2008-December 2009 |
| Differences across groups related to acceptance of computers (i.e., age, culture, stage of disease, cognitive and physical function, etc.) | Sept 2008-December 2009 |
| General user-friendliness of the tool | Sept 2008-December 2009 |
| Performance of selected domains and items for classification and assessment of pain and cachexia | Sept 2008-December 2009 |
| Validity of domains and items for depression | Sept 2008-December 2009 |
Countries
Norway
Outcome results
None listed