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The Engaging Primary Care in Cancer Survivorship (EPICS) Study

The EPICS (Engaging Primary Care in Cancer Survivorship) Study: A Trial of Novel Models of Care for Cancer Survivors

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04745754
Acronym
EPICS
Enrollment
2450
Registered
2021-02-09
Start date
2021-09-21
Completion date
2026-02-28
Last updated
2025-12-12

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

Conditions

Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer

Keywords

Cancer survivorship, Models of care

Brief summary

A quasi-experimental non-randomized pre/post with control group trial of two models of cancer survivorship care in early-stage colorectal and breast cancer survivors cared for in a community-based, integrated health care setting.

Detailed description

A quasi-experimental non-randomized pre/post with control group trial of two models of cancer survivorship care in early-stage colorectal and breast cancer survivors cared for in a community-based, integrated health care setting. The trial will test the efficacy of an embedded primary care provider (PCP) model (experimental condition) in which PCPs are embedded within an oncology practice and will care for low-risk survivors who will be transitioned at 6-36 months post-treatment for comprehensive survivorship care. We hypothesize that a) patients in the PCP model will have superior receipt of recommended care compared to usual care; b) patients in the PCP model will perceive significantly better care coordination, self-efficacy, and confidence in their PCP compared to usual care; and c) use of unplanned and non-recommended care will be less in the PCP model compared to usual care.

Interventions

OTHEREmbedded primary care in cancer survivorship model

Primacy care physicians will receive comprehensive training in cancer survivorship care for low-risk, early stage breast and colorectal patients. Training will include continuing medical education (CME) modules, webinars, and in-person discussion and clinical shadowing.

Sponsors

National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH
Kaiser Permanente
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Embedded primary care providers (PCPs) will provide comprehensive care for survivors, including cancer surveillance services, preventive care, and management of long-term therapy and associated side effects (e.g., endocrine therapy in breast survivors). A comprehensive multilevel approach will prepare survivors and PCPs (physicians and/or advance practice providers). Eligible patients in the embedded PCP model will be provided with tailored education regarding the planned transition and, after cessation of active treatment, printed information on the planned course of care, expectations for embedded PCP care, transition timing, and reassurance that the oncology team will be available via telephone and email, and that PCPs will refer back to the oncologist for any concerning signs or symptoms. Tailored alerts will also be added to the electronic medical record (EMR) for recommended cancer surveillance and preventive care services that will fire for visits with embedded PCPs.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients: Adult (21+) Kaiser Permanente Southern California members diagnosed and treated for pathologically confirmed first primary early-stage breast (stage 0, I, II) or colorectal (stage I, II) cancer within Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Completed active cancer treatment within the past 6-36 months; active treatment includes cancer-directed surgery, chemotherapy (includes Herceptin (Trastuzumab)), radiation therapy, and ovarian suppression therapy (e.g., Goserelin (Zoladex)). Completed at least one office visit within Kaiser Permanente Southern California medical oncology. At low-risk for cancer recurrence and treatment-related toxicities based on state of disease and treatment modalities. For our Aim 2 survey: Primary language of English or Spanish (although we will assess our Aim 1 participants for recorded preferred spoken language and adjust translations as needed). Ability to complete surveys of patient-reported outcomes. * Physicians: For centers assigned to the embedded primary care physician (PCP) model, PCPs selected to participate must be Board Certified in a relevant primary care specialty; hold a valid and current MD or advanced practitioner license; and be employed by the Southern California Permanente Medical Group.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients less than 21 years of age * Patients at high risk for recurrence and treatment-related toxicities based on stage of disease and treatment modalities

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Preventive care services36 monthsReceipt of guideline-recommended preventive care services.
Cancer surveillance care services36 monthsReceipt of guideline-recommended cancer surveillance care services.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) 2016, Experiences with Cancer Supplement, Section 7, Medical Care for Cancer Module (Item #44)12 monthsValidated measures of cancer survivorship financial burden, access to medical care, employment and employment patterns, healthcare utilization and expenditures, and use of prescription drugs by cancer survivors (Item #44; response options: 4-item Likert scale)
Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) and Cancer Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS)12 monthsThe Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Item Set is a set of supplemental questions that can be added to the adult and child versions of the CAHPS Clinician & Group Survey (CG-CAHPS) to gather more information on patient experience with the domains of primary care that define a medical home. However, use of this item set is not limited to practices that explicitly function as medical homes. Any primary care practice that is interested in a more comprehensive assessment of their patients' experiences may add the PCMH items to the survey (6 questions; response options: 3-item, 4-item or 6-item Likert scale).
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Health Scale v1.2 (answer responses using a Likert Scale)12 monthsAs part of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) created in 2004, The PROMIS Global-10 is a publically available global health assessment tool that allows measurements of symptoms, functioning, and healthcare-related quality of life (HRQoL) for a wide variety of chronic diseases and conditions (10 questions; response options: 5-item Likert scale).
Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Conditions Symptoms Scale (Self-efficacy for managing symptoms short form 8a (8 questions; 5-item Likert scale)12 monthsThe PROMIS adult Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Conditions Symptoms Scale assesses self-reported current level of confidence in managing symptoms from chronic health conditions (8 questions; response options: 5-item Likert scale).
The European Organisation for the Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (version 3)12 monthsQuestionnaire developed to assess the quality of life of cancer patients (30 questions; response options: 4-item or 7-item Likert scale)
Primary Care Delivery of Survivorship Care Scale12 monthsSelf-reported measure of perceived survivorship care (6 questions; response options: 5-item Likert scale)
Patient-Reported Bother from Side Effects of Cancer Therapy (Validated Single-Item Measure)12 monthsThe single item I am bothered by side effects of treatment (GP5), rated on a 5-point Likert scale, is part of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) version (1 question; response option: 5-item Likert scale)
The Satisfaction with Decision Scale12 months(6 questions; response options: 4-item Likert Scale)
Confidence in Managing Survivorship Care12 monthsQuestionnaire assessing self-reported receipt of survivorship care planning, expectations of their providers, and confidence in managing their survivorship care (5 questions; response options: 4-item Likert scales).
Cancer recurrence12 monthsSingle item, question: Did a doctor or other health professional ever tell you that your cancer had come back? (response option: yes/no). 1a. If yes, what was the most recent year a doctor or other health professional told you that your cancer had come back? \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_
Receipt of Treatment Summary from Health Information and National Trends Survey (HINTS 4, Cycle 2)12 monthsThe Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) regularly collects nationally representative data about the American public's knowledge of, attitudes toward, and use of cancer- and health-related information (1 question; response option: yes/no).
Non-recommended surveillance care/non-planned emergency and urgent care services36 monthsReceipt of non-recommended surveillance care based on current clinical guidelines, and use of non-planned hospitalization, emergency department, and urgent care services.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Self-reported patient demographics12 monthsgender, race/ethnicity; insurance type; highest level education; school/employment status; total household income

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

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