Communication Intervention for Pediatric Cancer
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial aims to improve communication among healthcare teams treating children with cancer. By enhancing communication among doctors, nurses, and other providers, the trial hopes to improve patient care and outcomes, especially in resource-limited hospitals. The trial tests a special communication program (a multi-level communication intervention) in some hospitals, while others maintain their usual practices for comparison. Healthcare providers working with hospitalized children at risk of worsening health might find this trial relevant. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative strategies that could enhance care for children with cancer.
What prior data suggests that this communication intervention is safe for improving pediatric cancer care?
Research has shown that poor communication in healthcare causes over 70% of treatment delays and preventable harm. This trial tests a method to improve communication among doctors and hospital staff when treating children with cancer. The goal is to enhance care and outcomes by improving communication.
No specific safety data exists for this communication method because it is not a medical treatment like a drug or surgery. Instead, it focuses on how healthcare teams talk and work together. As a result, there are no physical risks like side effects that might occur with new medicines. The method is designed to assist hospitals and staff, ensuring safety for everyone involved.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores a new way to support children with cancer through a multi-level communication intervention. Unlike traditional treatments that focus solely on medical care, this approach aims to enhance communication among patients, families, and healthcare providers. By developing a structured communication strategy, the trial seeks to improve the overall care experience and potentially lead to better emotional and psychological outcomes for pediatric cancer patients. This innovative angle holds promise for creating a more supportive and understanding environment during a child's cancer journey.
What evidence suggests that this communication intervention is effective for improving outcomes in pediatric cancer care?
This trial will compare a multi-level communication intervention with a waitlist control group to enhance care for children with cancer. Research has shown that improving communication among healthcare teams can significantly enhance care for these children. One study found that better communication helped identify patient issues early, which is crucial for preventing serious health problems. A review of several studies demonstrated that effective communication can help healthcare providers adhere more closely to treatment guidelines, potentially improving patient outcomes. Additionally, only 57% of young patients reported receiving high-quality health information, despite most wanting it. Closing these communication gaps could lead to better care and possibly increase survival rates for children with cancer.14678
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for healthcare providers who treat hospitalized children with cancer at risk of deterioration. Hospitals in the lowest quartile of communication quality, as per CritCom analysis, and those part of the Global Alliance providing childhood cancer care are eligible.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention Development
Intervention content and delivery mechanisms are finalized during this phase
Intervention Implementation
The multilevel intervention is implemented at each hospital
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Multi-level communication intervention
Trial Overview
The study tests a multi-level communication intervention aimed at improving how healthcare professionals talk to each other during pediatric cancer treatment, which could lead to better provider outcomes and patient survival rates.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
This study includes an intervention development phase (Aim 2) during which the intervention content and delivery mechanisms will be finalized. We will implement the multilevel intervention developed in Aim 2. We anticipate this will consist of one instance of intervention at each hospital and we will develop a full intervention manual following Aim 2. Details regarding the intervention will be updated prior to participant enrollment in the trial.
The wait list control is a group that does not receive an intervention during the study period, serving as an untreated comparison during the study, although they later receive the intervention. This intervention will be delivered after the completion of the last data collection instance.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Washington University School of Medicine
Lead Sponsor
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Collaborator
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Collaborator
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Collaborator
Citations
Strategies to improve healthcare team communication ...
This study will provide a foundational understanding of modifiable determinants of team communication that impact pediatric cancer care to ...
Design and methods of a multi-level intervention to ...
The goal of the BRIDGES Study is to evaluate the effects of a multi-level, remote intervention on adherence to guideline-recommended surveillance among CCS.
Multilevel Barriers and Facilitators of Communication in ...
Multiple factors can facilitate or impede the fulfillment of communication functions in pediatric cancer. In this systematic review, we evaluated 109 studies ...
Clinician perspectives on the multilevel impacts of Pediatric ...
PEWS are highly beneficial for pediatric oncology patients because they enable the early identification and prevention of clinical deterioration ...
5.
acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cncr.33361Improving communication in pediatric oncology: An ...
Only 57% of adolescent and young adult patients report receiving high-quality information about late effects, despite 87% reporting that such ...
Social Determinants of Outcomes in Young Cancer Survivors
This cross-sectional study analyzed how multilevel social factors affect patient-reported outcomes in children under 18 who survived cancer.
A proposed global framework for pediatric cancer ...
The authors introduce a functional communication framework that can be used for global pediatric cancer research.
8.
acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cncr.33467Multilevel barriers to communication in pediatric oncology ...
The authors identified 6 levels of barriers to communication from the clinicians' perspectives: individual, team, organization, collaborating hospital, ...
Unbiased Results
We believe in providing patients with all the options.
Your Data Stays Your Data
We only share your information with the clinical trials you're trying to access.
Verified Trials Only
All of our trials are run by licensed doctors, researchers, and healthcare companies.