Telehealth vs In-Person Palliative Care for Lung Cancer

(REACH PC Trial)

No longer recruiting at 22 trial locations

Overseen By Jennifer Temel, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Disqualifiers: Receiving outpatient PC, hospice, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 13

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the best way to provide palliative care (extra support for comfort and quality of life) to patients recently diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. It compares in-person visits with telehealth (virtual) care to determine which is more effective for patients and their families. Participants should have advanced non-small cell lung cancer, be aware of their diagnosis, and not yet receive palliative care. This study is for those who can read and respond to questions in English or Spanish. As an unphased trial, it offers a unique opportunity to contribute to improving care methods for future patients.

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's best to discuss this with the study team or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that these palliative care methods are safe for lung cancer patients?

Research has shown that telehealth palliative care for lung cancer patients is as safe as in-person consultations. One study found that patients who had video visits for early palliative care reported quality-of-life scores similar to those who met their doctors face-to-face. Another study found that telehealth palliative care helped reduce symptoms, proving it effective as well as safe.

These findings suggest that patients manage telehealth palliative care well. The studies reported no major negative effects, indicating its safety. Both telehealth and in-person palliative care appear to be safe options for those recently diagnosed with lung cancer. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how telehealth can change palliative care for lung cancer patients. Unlike traditional in-person care, telehealth allows patients and caregivers to connect with clinicians from the comfort of their home. This approach could make it easier for patients to access care regularly without the need for frequent clinic visits, which can be exhausting for those dealing with cancer. The trial also examines if telehealth can maintain the quality of care and support that patients and their caregivers receive, potentially transforming how palliative care is delivered.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for lung cancer?

This trial will compare telehealth palliative care with in-person palliative care for lung cancer patients. Research has shown that telehealth palliative care for these patients is as effective as in-person care. Specifically, studies found that video calls for early palliative care improve quality of life as much as traditional face-to-face visits. Patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer reported similar quality-of-life outcomes, regardless of whether they received care through telehealth or in person. This suggests telehealth can be a convenient and effective option for palliative care without sacrificing benefits. ^{1 5 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jennifer Temel, MD

Principal Investigator

Massachusetts General Hospital

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, treated without the aim of cure and informed about their condition within the last 12 weeks. They must be able to communicate in English or Spanish, live where the care team is licensed, and have a close contact involved. Excluded are those already in outpatient palliative care or hospice, or with cognitive/psychiatric conditions affecting consent.

Inclusion Criteria

I can take care of myself but may spend more than half the day in bed due to my condition.

Receiving primary cancer care at one of the participating sites

Lives in a state where their institutions' palliative care clinicians are licensed to practice

Exclusion Criteria

You have mental health conditions that make it difficult for you to understand and participate in the study.

I am currently getting palliative care or hospice services as an outpatient.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Initial Consultation

Patients meet with the palliative care clinician in person within four weeks of enrollment

4 weeks

1 visit (in-person)

Ongoing Palliative Care

Participants receive palliative care either in-person or via telehealth every four weeks

48 weeks

12 visits (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

6 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• In-person PC
• Telehealth

Trial Overview The study compares two ways of delivering palliative care: through telehealth services versus traditional in-person visits. It aims to determine which method better supports patients recently diagnosed with lung cancer and their families.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Telehealth Palliative Care Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

* Patient and caregiver will meet with the palliative care clinician in person within four weeks of enrollment. * Subsequent visits with the palliative care clinician will be conducted with the patient and caregiver in their home or other location using video at least every four weeks. * Patient and caregiver may be scheduled to meet with the palliative care clinician in the clinic if requested by the patient or a clinician. (Note: Caregiver enrollment in the study and attendance at palliative care visits are voluntary, and the patient can participate with no enrolled caregiver.)

Group II: In-person Palliative Care Active Control 1 Intervention

* Patient and caregiver will be scheduled for their first in-person palliative care visit within four weeks of enrollment and then at least every four weeks thereafter until the patient is no longer coming into the clinic. * In-person palliative care visits will be scheduled on the same day as an oncology visit if possible. (Note: Caregiver enrollment in the study and attendance at palliative care visits are voluntary, and the patient can participate with no enrolled caregiver.)

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Massachusetts General Hospital

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,066

Recruited

13,430,000+

Palliative Care Research Cooperative Group

Collaborator

Trials

9

Recruited

2,200+

Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute

Collaborator

Trials

592

Recruited

27,110,000+

Citations

1. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2823624

Telehealth vs In-Person Early Palliative Care for Patients ... Patients assigned to receive early palliative care via video visits reported quality-of-life scores at week 24 that were equivalent to those assigned to in- ...

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39259563/

Telehealth vs In-Person Early Palliative Care for Patients ... The delivery of early palliative care virtually vs in person demonstrated equivalent effects on quality of life in patients with advanced NSCLC.

3. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JCO.2024.42.17_suppl.LBA3

Comparative effectiveness trial of early palliative care ... The delivery of EPC via video versus in-person visits demonstrated equivalent effects on QOL in patients with advanced NSCLC.

4. ascopost.com ascopost.com/issues/february-25-2025/how-telehealth-is-broadening-access-to-early-palliative-care-and-improving-outcomes-for-patients-with-advanced-lung-cancer/

How Telehealth Is Broadening Access to Early Palliative ... However, the results from a recent study comparing the effectiveness of early palliative care delivered via secure video vs in-person clinical ...

5. medicine.yale.edu medicine.yale.edu/news-article/telehealth-is-just-as-effective-as-in-person-care-new-study-finds/

Telehealth Is Just as Effective as In-person Care, Study Finds Telehealth and in-person care has found that they are equally effective in improving quality of life in patients seeking palliative care.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12404616/

Safety and Efficacy of Telemedicine for Patients With ... This exploratory pilot study shows that TM PC interventions are feasible and lead to high reductions in intensity scores for symptoms, with high ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11440445/

Assessing Telehealth in Palliative Care: A Systematic ... This study aims to critically evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth in palliative care by focusing on several key areas.

8. lungcancerstoday.com lungcancerstoday.com/post/telehealth-palliative-care-visits-equivalent-to-in-person-for-patients-with-advanced-nsclc

Telehealth Palliative Care Visits Equivalent to In-Person for ... Delivery of early palliative care via telehealth video as compared with in-person visits provided equivalent effects in terms of quality of life for patients.