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Meaning-Centered Supportive Care for Advanced Cancer

N/A

Waitlist Available

Led By Francesca Gany, MD, PhD

Research Sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Are in treatment including surveillance, for a confirmed diagnosis of stage III or IV cancer (solid or liquid) as per clinician or pathology report

≥ 18 years of age

Must not have

Undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as per clinican report or the EMR

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up up to 5 years

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial will compare two different types of supportive care for Muslim patients with advanced cancer. One intervention is based on faith, and the other is not.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adult Muslim patients with stage III or IV cancer who are currently in treatment. They must have a life expectancy of at least 6 months, be cognitively intact, and able to speak and read English or Arabic. Excluded are those with major psychiatric illnesses, primary brain tumors, undergoing stem cell transplantation, or currently in psychotherapy.

What is being tested?

The study compares Masterful supportive care tailored for Muslims against non-faith-based control care using American Cancer Society materials. Participants will undergo three sessions which can be spread out over one week or up to 12 weeks based on their preference.

What are the potential side effects?

Since the interventions involve supportive care rather than medical treatments, traditional side effects like those seen with medications are not expected. However, emotional distress related to discussing advanced cancer may occur.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below

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I am currently being treated or monitored for stage III or IV cancer.

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I am 18 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:

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I am scheduled for or have had a stem cell transplant.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ up to 5 years

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~up to 5 years

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 5 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: Masterful supportive careExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

This intervention uses teachings, discussions, and exercises about personal experiences that focus on specific topics related to meaning and cancer. For example, we may discuss what is meaningful in your life, how you identify yourself before and after cancer, and your hopes for the future. The Masterful intervention is available in both English and Arabic, and it will be delivered by a trained bilingual member of the study team. It includes 3 weekly (or at participant's preference) 1-hour sessions with a member of the study team. The sessions for either the treatment or the control arm will take place in-person in a private room at MSKCC or via teleconference, depending on the patients preference. Meeting one-on-one with an interventionist was feasible in our pilot study and will enhance relationship-building between interventionist and patient. Participants will have the option to meet with the interventionist via teleconference in order to reduce in-person contact burden.

Group II: Attention control supportive careActive Control1 Intervention

This intervention uses the American Cancer Society's patient education materials. These sessions will include discussions about managing a self-identified current problem in your life. The attention control supportive care intervention is available in both English and Arabic, and it will be delivered by a trained bilingual member of the study team. It includes 3 weekly (or at participant's preference) 1-hour sessions with a member of the study team. The sessions for either the treatment or the control arm will take place in-person in a private room at MSKCC or via teleconference, depending on the patients preference. Meeting one-on-one with an interventionist was feasible in our pilot study and will enhance relationship-building between interventionist and patient. Participants will have the option to meet with the interventionist via teleconference in order to reduce in-person contact burden.

0 / 3Eligibility criteria met