Project ENABLE II
| This trial is no longer enrolling participants. |
Project ENABLE II is a randomized clinical trial funded by the National Cancer Institute. The project's goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-faceted intervention designed to improve palliative care for people with advanced cancer. At least 400 people enrolled in the study and were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: 200 participants had access to all of the usual supportive services available to patients at DHMC, and 200 participants had access to those services as well as receiving the new intervention. The intervention consists of multiple elements, which participants engage in according to their needs and preferences:
- Utilization of a computerized health survey designed to facilitate and improve communication between patients and their healthcare practitioners
- Collaboration with a nurse educator who (1) provides information regarding the problems and concerns faced by many people who have cancer, (2) trains participants in problem-solving skills to reduce distress and assist people in building the knowledge and ability to make decisions about many issues such as symptom management, life planning, and quality of life, and (3) helps participants to identify resources to meet personal needs and challenges
- Access to weekly Shared Medical Appointments led by a physician and nurse practitioner specializing in palliative care. These group appointments are a forum where participants can find ways to manage physical and emotional symptoms.
The intervention was designed to help build participants' awareness of resources and information and ability to address, solve, or self-manage the challenges they face in their daily lives.
Inclusion Criteria:
Over 18 years of age and newly diagnosed with any of the following:
- Lung Cancer - Stage IIIB or IV NSCLC, or extensive SCLC
- Breast Cancer - Stage IV with poor prognosis indicators
- GI cancer - Unresectable stage III and IV
Exclusion Criteria:
- Dementia or significant confusion
- Axis I psychiatric disorder (DSM-IV) of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or active substance use disorder
People of Project ENABLE II:
- Principal Investigator: Mark Hegel, PhD
- Co-Investigators: Robert Ferguson, PhD; Janette Seville, PhD; Fran Brokaw, MD; Marie Bakitas, DNSc, MS, ARNP, FAAN
- Project Coordinator: Kathleen Lyons, ScD, OTR
- Nurse educators: Kathleen Daretany MA, APRN, PCM-BC; Elizabeth McKinstry, MA, RN
- Research Assistants: Daphne Ellis, AS; Julie Wolf, RN, BSN
For more information please contact Daphne.L.Ellis@Dartmouth.EDU (603-653-3657) or Julie.Wolf@dartmouth.edu (603-653-3593)
