Impacting quality of life and pancreatic cancer survivorship through a telehealth intervention.

Abstract

TPS1663 Background: Pancreatic cancer patients experience significant debilitating symptoms as a direct or indirect result of disease, treatment, and co-morbidities resulting in higher symptom burden compared to other cancer types. The presence of comorbidities, declines in organ function, and increased need for assistance with daily function complicates the care of older adults with pancreatic cancer. Cancer not only affects the patient but also the entire family, especially the one that assumes the role of the family caregiver (FCG). Robust evidence suggests that survivors with pancreatic cancer and their FCGs experience high symptom burden and reduced quality-of-life (QOL). Despite robust evidence pointing to potential benefits of palliative care, many pancreatic cancer patients never receive any due to the workforce shortage. A scalable method of providing palliative care is needed. Methods: We are conducting a randomized pilot study to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a centrally administered telehealth, self-management survivorship care intervention in patients with pancreatic cancer and their FCGs. Patients within 8 weeks of initiating first line treatment for metastatic disease are eligible. Prior to initiating the intervention sessions, an advanced practice nurse (APRN) will complete separate comprehensive survivor/FCG QOL assessments using baseline surveys. The assessments will focus on QOL needs for survivors/FCGs and will include geriatric assessment for all regardless of age (activities of daily living, physical mobility, falls, social activity limitations, social support). Based on the QOL and geriatric screenings, the Intervention APRN will complete a personalized care plan for the patient, and a personalized self-care plan for the FCG. This provides for tailoring of the care plan to the participant’s needs and preferences and will be shared with each participant’s oncology care team after session completion. Both care plans will be organized around the four QOL aspects of care (physical, psychological, social, spiritual). Cultural aspects of care are taken into account and integrated appropriately within the four QOL aspects of care. A fully developed intervention resource manual with support reference materials and intervention content are provided to each patient and FCG. The patient and FCG coaching sessions are bi-weekly, centrally administered and separate but parallel to allow participants to freely discuss their QOL needs. Clinical trial information: NCT06524973 .