Outcomes of an Ovarian Cancer Quality of Life Intervention
(Betty R. Ferrell, RN, PhD, FAAN (P.I.) Marcia Grant, DNSc, FAAN, Deborah MacDonald, RN, MS, APNG, Robert Morgan, MD, Shirley Otis-Green, LCSW, City of Hope).
Aim 1
Test the effects of the Ovarian Cancer Education Intervention (OCEI) on outcomes of OVCA survivors at 1 and 3 months post intervention.
Aim 2
Test the effect of influencing demographic and treatment variables on outcomes of the OCEI at 1 and 3 months post intervention.
Aim 3
Examine the perceived quality of the OCEI. Research questions for Aim 3 will address subject satisfaction, perceived effectiveness of the OCEI and cost of delivering the intervention. The study design is a two group randomized trial including women with Stage II – IV OVCA. Subjects are randomized to the experimental group to receive the ovarian cancer educational intervention (OCEI) or to an attention control group. The OCEI is delivered by an advanced practice nurse or Social Worker in four sessions with consultation from the interdisciplinary research team. Outcomes are evaluated at 1 and 3 months post intervention.
Simultaneous Care: Linking Palliative Care to Clinical Trials
This project will implement Simultaneous Care Educational Interventions (SCI) for patients and caregivers and evaluate related outcome variables in multiple cancer centers. The project has four aims and ten objectives.
Aim 1
includes the implementation phase of the proposal and evaluates process outcomes that will guide future dissemination of the SCEI into the nation’s cancer centers.
Aim 2
involves measurement of the impact of the intervention on patients.
Aim 3
is the measurement of effect of the SCEI on families.
Aim 4
addresses the dissemination of results of the SCI implementation in other academic and community cancer centers around the country.
The specific aims will be accomplished using a quasi-experimental design with repeated measures. The assessment will be obtained using two pre-education measures and assessment every thirty days for six months. The assessment points following the intervention will provide data regarding the effectiveness of the intervention on patients and family caregiver.
The SCI uses the COPE model (Creativity, Optimism, Planning and Expert Information) developed by D’Zurilla and Nezu, as one of its key components. This theory is combined with a structured coaching model that reinforces educational interventions with patients on Phase I and II clinical trials and their caregivers. The SCI teaches patients and caregivers a problem solving approach for dealing with issues and problems common with advanced disease, and sets up a system for coaching the patient and caregiver of the new skills. Patient and family caregivers are taught a standardized, strategic approach to problem solving, learn and practice new communication skills and receives periodic reinforcement and guidance from research educators.
The model uses patient/family caregiver education as the vehicle to support and sustain the patient/family constellation through the clinical trial while raising critical end-of-life and palliative care issues. By applying this approach to the full range of difficulties encountered in the advanced illness and clinical trials arenas, patients and families can obtain crucial services and support while simultaneously planning for and working through difficult decisions. A comprehensive plan for the dissemination of the model and results to community and comprehensive cancer centers with follow-up to measure durable change completes this project.
