This research project will address the issue of gaps in continuity of supportive care for cancer patients during the early phases of the disease trajectory that result in unmet needs and unnecessary morbidity. We intend to study the impact of a specialized cancer-nursing program, Interlink Community Cancer Nurses (Interlink) on patient outcomes. Impact will be assessed directly using a validated measure of continuity of care from the patients’ perspective and validated measures of key supportive care patient outcomes including unmet needs, distress, uncertainty in illness, and quality of life, in a randomized trial.

Condition	Intervention
unmet supportive care needs continuity of care Quality of Life	Behavior: Interlink Community Program

Further Study Details: 

Primary Outcomes: Primary:; Difference in unmet supportive care needs between intervention and control group; Difference in continuity of care between intervention and control group; Difference in quality of life between intervention and control group
Secondary Outcomes: Secondary:; Difference in uncertainty in illness between intervention and control group; Difference in use of resources between intervention and control group; Acute stress following surgery
Expected Total Enrollment:  200

Main Research Question: Does community-based specialist oncology nursing case management improve continuity of cancer care and lead to fewer unmet cancer patient needs?

Why this research is important: This research proposal addresses the issue of gaps in continuity of supportive care for cancer patients during the early phases of the disease trajectory that result in unmet needs and unnecessary morbidity, prior to entry into a formalized cancer care system (e.g., a regional cancer centre or hospital with a cancer treatment program). This initial diagnostic period of cancer is associated with significant stress, anxiety and uncertainty that can impact upon overall quality of life for all types of cancer. These problems are further exacerbated by waiting times of up to 16 weeks between diagnoses and attendance in a formalized cancer treatment system. During this time patients will face a fragmented supportive care service system resulting in a substantial number of patients reporting unmet needs and distress. These care gaps have significant implications considering that the 38% of women and 41% of men will develop cancer during their lifetime and that cancer incidence continues to rise with an estimated 139,000 new cases in Canada (over 54,000 of these in Ontario) in 2003. There has been growing interest in nursing models to address these gaps in supportive cancer care but at this time there is not sufficient high quality evidence upon which to base policy decisions to support the widespread introduction of this type of model. The results of this study will be very important for policy development for community cancer care in Ontario and in other provinces in Canada.

What is being studied: We will study the impact of a specialized nursing intervention (Interlink) on patient outcomes early in the disease trajectory. Impact will be assessed directly using validated measures in a randomized controlled trial design. These measures will include: continuity of care, unmet needs, psychological distress, uncertainty in illness, and quality of life.

Ages Eligible for Study:  18 Years and above,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• A histologically confirmed breast or colorectal cancer.
• In the initial stages of surgical consultation within the randomized surgical practices.
• Not had previous or concomitant malignancies (except: non-melanoma skin cancer, carcinoma insitu of the cervix).
• Have been informed of their cancer diagnosis by the surgical office.
• Reside in the Interlink Adult program service area.
• Legally able to provide informed consent (18 years of age or older).
• Able to speak and read English.
• Patients from an intervention designated practice, must agree to referral to Interlink and to receiving an in-home needs assessment.

Please refer to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov identifier  NCT00182234

Daryl Bainbridge, BA, MSc(c)      (905) 387-9711  Ext. 64515    daryl.bainbridge@hrcc.on.ca

Canada, Ontario
      Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto,  Ontario,  M5G 2M9,  Canada

Study chairs or principal investigators

Jonathan Sussman, MD, CCFP, FRCP (c), MSc,  Principal Investigator,  Supportive Cancer Care Research Unit   

Study ID Numbers:  74867; CIHR – 74867; MOHLTC – 04171
Last Updated:  September 15, 2005
Record first received:  September 13, 2005
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00182234
Health Authority: Canada: Health Canada
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2005-09-20