Clinical Research Directory

Enhancing Cancer Care: Patient Navigation Through EROTC Quality-of-Life Insights at Sohag Oncology Center - A Cross-Sectional Study

This study investigates the use of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire to assess and address the supportive care needs of cancer patients. It aims to align patient-identified needs with physician-assessed needs to enhance care delivery and referral to supportive clinics such as pain management, physiotherapy, nutrition, and psychotherapy. To improve cancer patients' care, supportive clinics need to be utilised especially for terminal cases. This study investigated the navigation process for patients needing supportive care services based on their responses to the EROTC Quality of Life (QoL) questionnaire, conducted as part of the "Evidence-Based Patient Navigation" initiative. The QoL questionnaire assessed patients across multiple domains relevant to supportive care needs. Approval to use the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire was obtained from the "European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)"5 before study initiation. Our process included both the EROTC-QoL questionnaire (patient-identified needs) and the physicians-assessed needs across four supportive clinics: pain management, physiotherapy, nutrition, and psychotherapy. Clinic navigation was determined by a threshold score (up to a maximum of 4), with patients needing specialized support scoring higher than 2 and those below 2 not needing such services. This initiative (data collection phase) ran from January 1, 2024, to September 31, 2024, and the analysis process was followed afterward. Additionally, we conducted a consistency analysis to measure the alignment between the two assessments.

A Lay Navigation Intervention for Patients With Lung Cancer

Background: In Canada, lung cancer accounts for approximately 25% of cancer deaths each year. There are also known sociodemographic and racial inequities in the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. Studies have consistently found that patients with cancer have a high number of unmet needs, including psychological, physical, and informational. Navigation programs represent a potentially promising, equitable, and cost-effective approach to address the unmet needs of patients with lung cancer, but there is limited evidence about their effectiveness in patients with lung cancer. The investigators developed and have implemented a volunteer lay navigator program, Care and Connect (C\&C), which aims to proactively reduce distress in patients, provide information and support, and increase access to treatment and supportive care resources. The proposed pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) project plans to 1) assess the feasibility and acceptability of referral to C\&C and, 2) examine the preliminary effectiveness of C\&C. Methods: The current study is a 2-arm, parallel group, mixed methods, pilot RCT with a 1:1 allocation ratio and 3 timepoints: baseline (T0), 3 months (T1), 6 months (T2). It is designed to test the trial feasibility and acceptability of the C\&C intervention in patients with lung cancer. In total, 50 participants will be randomized to receive the C\&C intervention or usual care only (25 per arm). At each timepoint, data will be collected on participants' access to psychosocial (PSO) services, psychological wellbeing, and satisfaction with care through participant medical record and a survey. To gain additional insights regarding the acceptability, feasibility, and impact of C\&C, a subset of 15 participants from the intervention group will be contacted for qualitative exit interviews. Expected outcomes: There is limited evidence about the effects of lay navigation programs on access to PSO services among patients with lung cancer. This work addresses this knowledge gap by evaluating the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of C\&C on patients with lung cancer. The findings of the proposed work will expand the body of evidence supporting lay navigation to the lung cancer population, contributing to the evidence base for patient-centred care.

Empowering Families of Migrant Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to test if a patient navigator program improves healthcare experiences and outcomes for migrant families caring for a child or youth with special healthcare needs (i.e. chronic health condition). The main questions are, for migrant families with a child or youth with special healthcare needs: Does a patient navigator reduces barriers to care? Does a patient navigator improve care coordination, caregiver empowerment, caregiver stress and quality of life? What are the healthcare experiences for families with and without the patient navigator intervention? Participants will: * Receive the intervention, i.e., the patient navigator program, or continue with standard of care for 12 months * Fill out questionnaires at 3 time points on barriers to care, caregiver stress, care coordination, and their child's health