Spiritual Care for Cancer

Overseen By Marvin Delgado Guay, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers, Cognitive impairment, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores a spiritual care approach called the PEACE intervention for people with advanced cancer. The goal is to determine if this spiritual support, led by chaplains and clinicians, is helpful and well-received by patients. Participants will either receive usual comprehensive care or participate in two special spiritual care sessions, each lasting 30-60 minutes. This trial is for those with advanced cancer who believe their faith encourages them to seek all possible treatments and are receiving care at MD Anderson Cancer Center. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to explore innovative spiritual support that could enhance the care experience.

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 to focus on spiritual care, so it's unlikely that medication changes are required, but you should confirm with the trial coordinators.

What prior data suggests that the PEACE intervention is safe for patients with advanced cancer?

Research has shown that the PEACE program is being tested to determine its effectiveness in reducing anxiety among cancer survivors. While specific safety data is limited, the nature of the PEACE program suggests it is likely manageable for most individuals. This program includes spiritual care provided by chaplains and healthcare professionals, focusing on emotional and spiritual support for patients.

Since this treatment does not involve medication or medical procedures, it typically presents fewer chances of physical side effects. It is designed to help patients manage their cancer experience by addressing emotional and spiritual needs. As a non-invasive therapy, negative side effects are expected to be minimal.

Overall, despite the lack of detailed safety data specific to this program, the type of care suggests a low risk of harm, making it a potentially safe option for prospective participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the PEACE intervention for cancer patients because it uniquely addresses not just the physical aspects of cancer care but also the emotional and spiritual needs of patients. Unlike standard treatments that often focus solely on medical care, the PEACE intervention involves two personalized sessions aimed at promoting peace of mind and emotional well-being. This holistic approach is anticipated to enhance quality of life and provide comprehensive support that standard treatments may not fully offer.

What evidence suggests that the PEACE intervention is effective for advanced cancer patients?

Research has shown that the PEACE program, which participants in this trial may receive, can help cancer patients by addressing their spiritual needs. Studies have found that programs like PEACE, focusing on acceptance and mindfulness, help patients feel calmer and improve their emotional well-being. In one study, cancer survivors reported feeling more at ease and connected after participating in similar programs. This suggests that the PEACE program might improve the quality of life for people with advanced cancer by promoting a sense of peace and acceptance. Although more research is needed, these findings offer hope for those seeking spiritual support as part of their cancer treatment. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Marvin Delgado Guay, MD

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for patients with advanced cancer who are interested in exploring how their spiritual or religious beliefs relate to their medical care. Specific eligibility criteria details were not provided, so it's best to contact the study organizers for more information.

Inclusion Criteria

I understand the study and can make decisions about my care.

I believe in accepting all medical treatments to extend life due to my faith.

Only English-speaking, as determined by their ability to understand the informed consent, the intervention, and the assessment tools.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Phase 1: PEACE Intervention

Patients participate in two PEACE intervention sessions, each lasting 30-60 minutes

1 week

2 visits (in-person)

Phase 2: Usual Care

Comprehensive evaluation of the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs by the Supportive/Palliative Care medical team

2 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in spiritual/religious beliefs related to medical care

2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• PEACE Intervention

Trial Overview

The study is testing a chaplain-clinician led intervention called PEACE, which focuses on addressing patients' spiritual needs and concerns as part of their overall cancer care. It aims to see if this approach is practical and well-received by participants.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Phase 2 Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Usual care is a comprehensive evaluation of the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the patient by the Supportive/Palliative Care medical team

Group II: Phase 1 Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients will participate in two PEACE intervention sessions, which will last 30-60 minutes each.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

Citations

1.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33734288/

The PEACE Randomized Clinical Trial - PubMed - NIH

The primary outcome was change in average pain severity score on the BPI from baseline to week 12. Among 360 cancer survivors 340 (94.4%) ...

2.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03824158

Patient-centered and Efficacious Advance Care Planning ...

The overall goal of this study is to identify the most effective and efficient advance care planning (ACP) strategy for patients with advanced cancer.

3.

jamanetwork.com

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaoncology/fullarticle/2777349

Effectiveness of Electroacupuncture or Auricular ...

Electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture are more effective than usual care at reducing chronic musculoskeletal pain in cancer survivors.

4.

researchgate.net

researchgate.net/publication/11597143_Framework_PEACE_An_organizational_model_for_examining_physical_exercise_across_the_cancer_experience

An organizational model for examining physical exercise ...

The primary purpose of this article is to provide a framework for organizing research on physical exercise and cancer control.

5.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11438294/

Peace, equanimity and acceptance in the cancer experience

The results demonstrate the validity and reliability of PEACE-G in cancer patients and point to the essential role of acceptance- and mindfulness-based ...

6.

cancer.gov

cancer.gov/research/participate/clinical-trials-search/v?id=NCI-2022-04336

Evaluating PEACE Intervention for the Reduction of Anxiety ...

This clinical trial evaluates the PEACE intervention for its ability to reduce anxiety in survivors undergoing a pelvic exam. Eligibility Criteria ...

7.

cdn.clinicaltrials.gov

cdn.clinicaltrials.gov/large-docs/58/NCT03824158/Prot_SAP_000.pdf

Patient-centered and efficacious advance care planning in ...

The purpose of this study is to compare the effectiveness and implementation costs of two different patient-facing ACP interventions among ...

8.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7365491/

Advance Care Planning: Promoting Effective and Aligned ...

Our secondary outcomes include resuscitation preferences, palliative care consultations, death, hospice use and final cancer-directed therapy.

9.

eortc.org

eortc.org/blog/2025/10/19/eortc-announces-final-overall-survival-results-from-the-peace-3-trial/

EORTC Announces Final Overall Survival Results From ...

EORTC Announces Final Overall Survival Results from the PEACE-3 Trial. 19 Oct 2025. The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of ...