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Feasibility, Acceptability and Preliminary Effects of the Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention

Feasibility, Acceptability and Preliminary Effects of the Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention (SCAI) Framework for Adults With Advanced Cancer and Their Caregivers (FCGs): A Clinical Pilot Trial

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03823313
Enrollment
42
Registered
2019-01-30
Start date
2018-12-10
Completion date
2019-08-28
Last updated
2020-02-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Advanced Cancer, Metastatic Cancer

Keywords

Spiritual Care, Religion, Spirituality, Caregiver

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to test a spiritual care intervention for adults with advanced cancer and their caregivers. This intervention will assess 4 areas of spiritual experience: meaning and purpose, relationships, transcendence and peace, self-worth and identity. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and participate in 4 sessions with research chaplains.

Detailed description

Several studies have shown that cancer affects multiple dimensions of a patient's life as well as the lives of caregivers and others close to the patient who, when faced with life crises, may use religion and spirituality (R/S) to cope. This study is the first of its kind to incorporate a semi-structured spiritual care and intervention (SCAI) framework into the spiritual care of advanced cancer patients while maintaining proper controls in order to investigate its feasibility, acceptability and potential effects on the emotional and spiritual outcomes of advanced cancer patients and their caregivers. This framework will assess 4 areas of spiritual experience: meaning and purpose, relationships, transcendence and peace, self-worth and identity. Additionally, not only will this study assess acceptability and feasibility of the intervention, it will also track and document coping, satisfaction, anxiety, depression, quality of life outcomes and follow-up with both patient and caregivers following Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention (SCAI). Specific Aim 1: To evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the SCAI intervention for adults with advanced cancer and their caregivers. Specific Aim 2: To establish our ability to collect outcome data to support a future efficacy trial for patients and their caregivers in the outpatient clinic and home setting. Specific Aim 3: To test the preliminary impact of the SCAI intervention on patient and caregiver spiritual wellbeing (primary outcome) and quality of life, religious coping, depression, and anxiety (secondary outcomes)

Interventions

BEHAVIORALSCAI (Spiritual Care Assessment and Intervention)

4 sessions completed with an IU Health chaplain using a framework of questions called the Spiritual Care Assessment And Intervention tool. The weekly sessions will focus on one of the 4 areas of spiritual experience (meaning and purpose, relationships, transcendence and peace, self-worth and identity)

Sponsors

Indiana University Health
CollaboratorOTHER
Indiana University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Patient is at least 18 years of age. * Patient is at least 2 weeks post-diagnosis of an incurable and advanced stage (IV) lung, colorectal, GI neuroendocrine and Hepatobiliary, testicular and esophageal solid malignancy and receiving cancer care at IU Simon Cancer Center. * Patient is willing and able to consent, has a reliable phone and willing to participate in 4 sessions of 30 (+/- 5) minutes per session. * Patient has a family member or eligible friend considered to be a caregiver and interested in participating in the study. * Patient has adequate English fluency for completion of data collection. * Family Caregiver (FCG) is at least 18 years of age. * Family Caregiver (FCG) has been invited to participate in the trial with a patient who meets eligibility criteria above. * Family Caregiver (FCG) is willing and able to consent and to participate in 4 sessions of 30 (+/- 5) minutes per session * Family Caregiver (FCG) has adequate English fluency for completion of data collection.

Exclusion criteria

* Patient makes 3 or more errors on a validated 6-item cognitive screener (Appendix A) or exhibits significant psychiatric or cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia/delirium, retardation, active psychosis) that in the judgment of the investigators would preclude providing informed consent and study participation. * Currently receiving hospice care (patients who enroll in hospice during the trial will have the option of continuing trial participation). * Family Caregiver (FCG) exhibits significant psychiatric or cognitive impairment (e.g., dementia/delirium, retardation, active psychosis) that in the judgment of the investigators would preclude providing informed consent and study participation.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Rate of enrollmentfrom recruitment to enrollment (i.e. up to 30 days)number of eligible patients that are consented and enrolled in the trial
Attendance Rate4 weeksproportion of participants who attend all four intervention sessions
Mean Satisfaction Score4 weekssatisfaction score among participants on the satisfaction survey
Functional assessment of chronic illness therapy-Spiritual Well-being Scale Scoresbaseline, 1-2 weeks after session 4, 6 weeks, 3 monthsTotal score at baseline will be compared to score at to the score at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale Scoresbaseline, 1-2 weeks after session 4, 6 weeks, 3 monthsMeasure of Anxiety through total score at baseline compared to score at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months
Patient Health Questionnaire Depression Scale (PHQ-8)baseline, 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 monthsMeasure of depression through total score at baseline compared to score at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months
Percentage of completed baseline surveysbaselinepercentage of completed baseline surveys in enrolled patients
Intervention Satisfaction Questionnaire scorebaseline, 1-2 weeks after session 4, 6 weeks, 3 months
Brief RCOPE scorebaseline, 1-2 weeks after session 4, 6 weeks, 3 monthsMeasure of coping through total score at baseline compared to score at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months
Percentage of completed follow up surveysbaseline, 1-2 weeks after session 4, 6 weeks, 3 months
McGrill Quality of Life Questionnaire scorebaseline, 1-2 weeks after session 4, 6 weeks, 3 monthsMeasure of patient quality of life through total score at baseline compared to score at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months
Caregiver Quality of Life Index-Cancer Questionnaire scorebaseline, 1 week, 6 weeks, 3 monthsMeasure of caregiver quality of life through total score at baseline compared to score at 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3 months

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026