Telemedicine Supportive Care for Cancer Patients

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 14 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial examines whether "virtual" medical visits using telemedicine (video calls) are as effective as in-person clinic visits for supportive care in cancer patients. It targets individuals with a solid tumor who have already had an initial in-person visit and are scheduled for future supportive care visits but have not yet begun them. Participants must reside in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut and be able to use the MyMSK online portal. As an unphased trial, this study allows patients to contribute to innovative research that could enhance access to care.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that telemedicine is safe for cancer patients?

Research has shown that telemedicine is generally safe and well-received for cancer care. One study found that both patients and healthcare providers expressed high satisfaction with it. Another study during the COVID-19 pandemic confirmed that telemedicine provided a safe and effective way to deliver medical services remotely. These findings suggest that using telemedicine for home care is a safe choice for patients. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores telemedicine as a supportive care method for cancer patients, offering a unique alternative to traditional in-person follow-ups. Unlike standard care, which usually involves physical visits to clinics, telemedicine provides a convenient and accessible way for patients to receive care from the comfort of their homes. This approach not only has the potential to reduce travel-related stress and exposure, especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, but also aims to maintain or even improve the quality of patient care. By expanding access to healthcare professionals through digital means, researchers hope to find out if telemedicine can effectively support cancer patients' needs just as well, if not better, than conventional methods.

What evidence suggests that telemedicine is effective for supportive care in cancer patients?

Research has shown that telemedicine can effectively assist cancer patients at home. In this trial, participants will join either a home telemedicine follow-up group or an in-person follow-up group. Studies have found that remote symptom monitoring can reduce hospital visits for these patients. Many patients also report that telehealth is convenient and effective for managing their health. Another study found that actively managing symptoms through telemedicine can lessen symptom severity and reduce the need for healthcare services. These findings suggest that telemedicine can be as effective as in-person visits for supporting cancer patients. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Judith Nelson, MD,JD

Principal Investigator

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with any type of solid tumor who've had an initial in-person visit at Rockefeller Outpatient Pavilion and are set up for follow-up visits. They must be enrolled on the MyMSK portal and live in New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut. Non-English speakers needing an interpreter can't join.

Inclusion Criteria

enrolled on the MyMSK secure online patient portal and have access to the portal off site of MSK campuses

I am scheduled for follow-up visits with Supportive Care Services but haven't had any yet.

resident of New York or New Jersey or Connecticut (clinicians may not be licensed in other states, as would be required for televisits to patients there)

Exclusion Criteria

I need an interpreter to communicate with doctors or to understand medical forms.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive supportive care follow-up via telemedicine or in-person visits

14 weeks

Telemedicine visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Supportive Care
• Telemedicine

Trial Overview

The study compares two types of follow-up care for cancer patients: traditional in-person clinic visits versus telemedicine visits conducted from home using online communication tools to see if they're equally effective.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Home Telemedicine follow-up Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: In-person follow-up Active Control 1 Intervention

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, patients originally randomized to the in-person group received telemedicine visits. Thus, the researchers will expand our sample for these interviews to include patients who have completed at least 2 telemedicine follow-up visits whether they were originally randomized to the in-person group or the home telemedicine group.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,998

Recruited

602,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Supportive care in oncology focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life throughout the entire cancer journey, from diagnosis to end-of-life care, emphasizing a patient-centered approach that includes communication with families and caregivers.

This care must be evidence-based and involve a multidisciplinary team, including various specialists, to address physical, emotional, and financial challenges, while also integrating new technologies like eHealth to enhance patient support.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supportive care in cancer-a MASCC perspective. Olver, I., Keefe, D., Herrstedt, J., et al.[2022]

Supportive cancer care encompasses comprehensive assistance for patients, including pain management, psychological support, and access to therapies, which is crucial for improving quality of life during treatment.

In France, the establishment of supportive care centers in hospitals aims to enhance coordination among multidisciplinary teams, particularly benefiting patients with bone metastasis through tailored interventions like bisphosphonates and physiotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Supportive care for urological metastatic patients]. Lebret, T., Di Palma, M., Ripoll, J., et al.[2008]

A systematic review of 62 phase III breast cancer chemotherapy trials revealed that 66% did not report details on prophylactic antiemetic treatments, indicating a significant gap in supportive care documentation.

The lack of reporting on supportive care interventions, such as growth factors and antibiotics, could negatively affect patient management and increase healthcare costs, highlighting the need for better guidelines in clinical trial reporting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Filling in the gaps: reporting of concurrent supportive care therapies in breast cancer chemotherapy trials. Freedman, O., Amir, E., Zimmermann, C., et al.[2021]

The digital supportive cancer care portal was adopted by 72% of patients undergoing chemotherapy, with a high usability score of 72.3, indicating that patients found it easy to use and engage with the platform.

Patients reported significant improvements in symptom distress, quality of life, and health engagement after using the portal, suggesting that it may positively impact patient outcomes during cancer treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supportive digital health service during cancer chemotherapy: A single arm before and after feasibility study. Fridriksdottir, N., Ingadottir, B., Skuladottir, K., et al.[2023]

The BPSS app, designed to support breast cancer patients during chemotherapy, did not show significant improvements in anxiety, depression, or health literacy compared to patients who did not use the app, based on a study of 102 patients.

Despite the lack of improvement in psychological outcomes, the app effectively recorded a high number of side effects, revealing that medical staff often underestimated the severity of patients' symptoms, suggesting the app could enhance communication and care between patients and healthcare providers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of a Smartphone Application as a Support Tool for Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Handa, S., Okuyama, H., Yamamoto, H., et al.[2021]

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The aim of this study is to estimate the effects of a palliative care consultation intervention among adults with advanced cancer delivered either as a ...

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Web-Based Cancer Symptom Self-Management System

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Telemedicine (TM) was studied, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, to ascertain its utility in delivering remote medical services.