Patient Navigation + PACT Website for Cancer

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Uncontrolled psychiatric conditions, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

40 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores how well two different tools assist patients with blood cancers in planning their future care after a blood stem cell transplant. One tool is a patient navigator, a healthcare guide who helps patients understand and manage their care. The other is the PACT website, which provides resources for planning future medical care. Participants will either use the PACT website, work with a patient navigator, or try both methods together. This trial suits those who have undergone a blood stem cell transplant for blood cancer, are between one and five years post-transplant, and have internet access but have not completed all their advance care planning. As an unphased trial, this study presents a unique opportunity to explore new ways to enhance post-transplant care planning.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on planning and discussions about future care rather than medication changes.

What prior data suggests that patient navigation and the PACT website are safe for improving advanced care planning in patients with blood cancers?

Research shows that patient navigation programs are well-liked and helpful. A detailed review found these programs assist in cancer treatment, improving patients' well-being and satisfaction with their care. Reports of major negative effects are absent, indicating that patient navigation is generally safe and manageable.

Studies indicate that online interventions can enhance the quality of life for cancer patients. Participants often find these online tools useful and appropriate. Again, reports show these interventions are safe with no major side effects.

Therefore, both patient navigation and the PACT website, when used in similar situations, have proven safe and beneficial for people dealing with cancer. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Patient Navigation + PACT Website trial because it explores novel ways to support cancer patients beyond standard care. The Patient Navigation approach offers personalized guidance from trained health coaches, helping patients understand and manage their care plan, which could improve their overall experience and outcomes. The PACT Website adds another layer by providing interactive online support, making it accessible and convenient for patients. This combination could empower patients with more information and support than traditional care, potentially leading to better engagement and satisfaction in their treatment journey.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for advanced care planning in blood cancer patients?

Studies have shown that patient navigation programs, one approach tested in this trial, improve cancer treatment outcomes by guiding patients through the healthcare system and reducing obstacles to care. Research indicates that these programs increase participation in cancer screening and shorten the time from screening to diagnosis, leading to better disease management. Additionally, internet-based tools like the PACT website, another approach under study, have effectively reduced stress and improved health outcomes for cancer patients. These digital tools assist patients in managing symptoms and supporting emotional well-being. Both approaches in this trial aim to enhance the quality of care for people with cancer by ensuring they receive the necessary support and information. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Megan Shen, PhD

Principal Investigator

Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for blood cancer patients who have undergone a hematopoietic cell transplant. It aims to help them plan their care towards the end of life by using patient navigation services and an online tool called PACT, which assists with advanced care planning.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability to speak and read English

Has not completed all advance directives and/or had a goals of care (GOC) conversation with their physician

Access to the internet (via computer, tablet, or mobile device)

Exclusion Criteria

Uncontrolled psychiatric conditions (confirmed through electronic health record [EHR] by study staff)

I am unable to understand and agree to the study details on my own.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Participants engage with the PACT website and/or receive patient navigation over 4 weeks

4 weeks

1 session (in-person or virtual) with a health coach

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for engagement and outcomes related to advance care planning

12 weeks

Follow-up assessments at 4 and 12 weeks post intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Internet-Based Intervention
• Patient Navigation

Trial Overview The IMPACT-HCT Trial is testing whether patient navigation and the Planning Advance Care Together (PACT) website can improve conversations about future medical care wishes among HCT survivors. The study looks at these interventions separately and together.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Condition 3 (PACT) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Patients interact with the PACT website over 4 weeks.

Group II: Condition 2 (patient navigation) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Patients receive a navigation session over 30-45 minutes with a trained health coach to review ACP.

Group III: Condition 1 (PACT, patient navigation) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Patients interact with the PACT website over 4 weeks and receive a navigation session over 30-45 minutes with a trained health coach to review ACP.

Group IV: Condition 4 (standard/usual care) Active Control 2 Interventions

Patients receive standard/usual care for 4 weeks on study.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

583

Recruited

1,341,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9157353/

Effectiveness of internet-based support interventions on ... This systematic review aims to identify the elements of internet-based support interventions and assess their effectiveness at reducing psychological distress, ...

2. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1462388925002315

Effectiveness Of Digital Therapeutics In Improving Health ... Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria. Digital Therapeutics demonstrated a significant reduction in fear of cancer recurrence (SMD = -0.43, ...

3. bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-025-06823-2

The effectiveness of internet-based acceptance and ... Online ACT over time reduces the difficulty in emotion regulation and reduces the severity of symptoms in breast cancer patients. The symptoms ...

4. mhealth.jmir.org mhealth.jmir.org/2025/1/e71196

Effects of Remote Web-Based Interventions on the ... Conclusions: The remote web-based interventions were effective in reducing the intensity of physiological pain, relieving fatigue, improving ...

5. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10124999/

Digital health and telehealth in cancer care: a scoping review ... Effectiveness of internet-based interventions in managing chemotherapy-related symptoms in patients with cancer: a systematic literature review.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12203031/

Effects of Remote Web-Based Interventions on the ... Overall, remote web-based interventions significantly improved the quality of life of patients with cancer. The specific results of the statistical analysis are ...

7. jmir.org jmir.org/2020/3/e16547/

Experiences of Internet-Based Stepped Care in Individuals ... Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the participants' perceptions of the relevance and benefits of an internet-based stepped ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214782918300794

A guided internet-delivered individually-tailored ACT ... INNOVBC is an internet-delivered ACT-influenced CBT intervention targeting breast cancer survivors. Depression and anxiety are the primary outcomes in this ...

9. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/EDBK_350151

Leveraging Digital Technology to Reduce Cancer Care ... This article explores these three areas to ask how technology tools and solutions can help reduce inequities in cancer care.

10. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11700045/

Electronic patient-reported outcomes as digital ... The STAR group observed a significant improvement in median OS by approximately 5 months (median OS: intervention group 31.2 months vs. usual ...