TrialTalk™ for Cancer

Recruiting at 2 trial locations

Overseen By Cancer Connect

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Wisconsin, Madison

Disqualifiers: Previous cancer trial, Cognitive impairment

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

30 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a program called TrialTalk™ can improve communication between cancer patients and their doctors. It focuses on patients who have cancer and identify as Black, African American, or non-Hispanic White. Suitable candidates have previously met with their doctor and might join another cancer treatment trial. Participants will complete surveys before and after their clinic visits to share their experiences. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to enhance doctor-patient communication for future cancer 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. It focuses on communication between patients and doctors, so it's unlikely that your medication regimen will be affected.

What prior data suggests that TrialTalk™ is safe for improving communication in cancer care?

Research has shown that TrialTalk™ aims to improve communication between cancer patients and their healthcare providers. Without traditional medication or physical treatment, there are no typical drug-related side effects to consider.

A focus group study examined how TrialTalk™ assists with conversations about decisions between patients and doctors. This study emphasized improving how information is shared and understood, rather than testing a new drug or treatment. As a result, TrialTalk™ is generally safe and well-tolerated, involving training and conversation tools instead of physical treatments.

Since no reports of negative effects or side effects have emerged from using TrialTalk™, it is considered a safe option for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about TrialTalk™ because it's not a traditional treatment but a communication method designed to enhance interactions between cancer patients and their providers. Unlike standard medical treatments that focus on drugs or surgery, TrialTalk™ aims to improve patient outcomes by training providers to communicate more effectively, fostering a better understanding of the patient's needs and concerns. This novel approach could lead to more personalized care and potentially improve the overall treatment experience for patients. By focusing on the provider-patient relationship, TrialTalk™ seeks to uncover how communication can directly impact health outcomes in cancer care.

What evidence suggests that TrialTalk™ is effective for improving communication in cancer care?

Research shows that communication training, such as TrialTalk™, can enhance conversations about care goals between patients and healthcare providers. In this trial, some participants will include cancer providers trained in TrialTalk™, while others will be patients treated by these trained providers. Some studies have found that coaching healthcare teams in communication skills increases patient satisfaction. However, results are mixed, and not all studies show a clear improvement in patient satisfaction. Despite this, TrialTalk™ aims to improve doctor-patient conversations, potentially leading to better healthcare experiences. Early findings suggest it could be a useful tool for enhancing communication in cancer care settings. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Monica Patel, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for cancer patients interested in improving communication with their healthcare team. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, so it's best to contact the study organizers for details on who can participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with cancer.

Patients: identify as Black, African American, or non-Hispanic White

Patients: can read and understand English to complete the study questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria

Patients: have moderate to severe cognitive impairment

Patients: previous enrollment in a cancer intervention clinical trial

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Training

Providers undergo TrialTalk™ training to improve communication skills

4 weeks

Online modules

Implementation

Providers and patients use the TrialTalk™ tool during standard care visits

6 months

Monthly visits

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for the sustainability and effectiveness of the TrialTalk™ tool

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• TrialTalk™

Trial Overview The intervention being studied is TrialTalk™, a tool or method designed to enhance patient-provider communication in cancer clinics. Participants will answer questionnaires before and after using TrialTalk™ during their regular clinic visits.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Provider participants Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Cancer providers who have received TrialTalk™ training.

Group II: Patient participants Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients who are treated by a cancer provider who has received TrialTalk™ training.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,249

Recruited

3,255,000+

Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

Collaborator

Trials

521

Recruited

224,000+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06985953

Evaluating the Communication Between Patients and ... This clinical trial seeks to understand patients' experiences with the healthcare team and the quality of communication between patients and doctors in cancer ...

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20030702/

The effect of communication skills training on patient ... We concluded that the current review reveals inconclusive evidence to prove the effectiveness of communication training on patient satisfaction and patient ...

3. oncnursingnews.com oncnursingnews.com/view/patientprovider-communication-training-can-improve-goals-of-care-discussions

Patient-Provider Communication Training Can Improve ... Researchers in the study set out to determine if communication skills coaching had an impact on the prevalence and satisfaction with goals of ...

4. clinconnect.io clinconnect.io/trials/NCT06985953

Evaluating the Communication Between Patients and This clinical trial is designed to improve how patients communicate with their healthcare team in cancer clinics. It specifically looks at whether a ...

5. trialstoday.org trialstoday.org/search/results?status=recruiting&gender=&age=&zip=&radius=25&condition=&healthy=&type=&interventionalpurpose=&observationalmodel=&query=University%20of%20Iowa%20Neurology&page=eJyLViooSi3LzC8tVtJR8nMOMTAxNjMyNDdT0tG1hAEcTDM9E3NLc2NDMx1Dc0NzIwMo0FHKSy4xMDAyN7KwMFaKBQCPtRaA

Trials Today The main question it aims to answer is: - Does TrialTalk™ improve communication between providers and patients? Participants will complete questionnaires before ...

6. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2018.36.34_suppl.45

A randomized clinical trial of TrialTALK, a communication ... Results from a focus group evaluating TrialTALK, a designed conversation to facilitate cancer treatment shared decision making.

7. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2019.37.31_suppl.34

Results from a focus group evaluating TrialTALK ... Here, we report the results of a focus group conducted in Toronto comparing two approaches to a cancer decision making conversation. Methods: Our focus group ...

8. metastatictrialtalk.org metastatictrialtalk.org/research-news/side-effects-clinical-trials/

Reporting Side Effects in Cancer Clinical Trials Studies are exploring what types of side effects are reported in cancer clinical trials and how data on these side effects are collected.

9. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7643655/

Associations between safety, tolerability, and toxicity ... Anti‐cancer drugs are approved typically on the basis of efficacy and safety as evaluated in phase III randomized trials (RCTs).