Telemedicine Supportive Care for Cancer Patients

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

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

33 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This study will test whether supportive care follow-up delivered to cancer patients at home by telemedicine ("virtual" medical visits using telecommunications technologies) is as effective as in-person supportive care visits in the clinic.

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 data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Telemedicine Supportive Care for Cancer Patients?

Supportive care, which includes managing symptoms and improving quality of life, is important for cancer patients and can be effectively coordinated through telemedicine. This approach helps patients access necessary care and support, such as pain management and psychological help, while staying connected to their social community. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is telemedicine supportive care safe for cancer patients?

Supportive care, including telemedicine, is generally considered safe for cancer patients as it focuses on managing symptoms and improving quality of life. It involves various healthcare professionals and uses technology to enhance communication and care, but specific safety data for telemedicine in this context is not detailed in the available research. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How is the Telemedicine Supportive Care treatment for cancer patients unique?

This treatment is unique because it uses telemedicine to provide supportive care, which includes psychological support, pain management, and nutritional counseling, especially for patients in remote or resource-limited areas. It allows continuous care while minimizing the risk of infection and overcoming barriers like limited access to traditional healthcare facilities. ^{11 12 13 14 15}

Research Team

Judith Nelson, MD,JD

Principal Investigator

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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]

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]

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 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]

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]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ambulatory supportive care for the cancer patient. [2019]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The quality of supportive cancer care in the veterans affairs health system and targets for improvement. [2017]

3. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Supportive care in oncology: definition, organization, limits]. [2019]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Sociodemographic, Medical, and Psychosocial Factors Associated With Supportive Care Needs in Adults Diagnosed With Uveal Melanoma. [2020]

5. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Supportive care for urological metastatic patients]. [2008]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Supportive therapy in oncology]. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of Health Pathways to Standardize Cancer Care Pathways Informed by Patient-Reported Outcomes and Clinical Practice Guidelines. [2019]

8. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supportive care in cancer-a MASCC perspective. [2022]

9. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Filling in the gaps: reporting of concurrent supportive care therapies in breast cancer chemotherapy trials. [2021]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of a Smartphone Application as a Support Tool for Patients Undergoing Breast Cancer Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2021]

11. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supportive care of cancer patients in Dubai. [2019]

12. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Providing Supportive and Palliative Care Using Telemedicine for Patients with Advanced Cancer During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico. [2021]

13. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Rural Palliative Care Telemedicine for Advanced Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review. [2023]

14. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Supportive digital health service during cancer chemotherapy: A single arm before and after feasibility study. [2023]

15. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Examination of a distress screening intervention for rural cancer survivors reveals low uptake of psychosocial referrals. [2022]