Trial Information

Family Home Care for Cancer - A Community-Based Model

GOAL: The primary goal of this research is to test a symptom management intervention,
delivered by nurses with special training, using a stepped-care approach targeted toward
pain and fatigue, followed by fifteen other prevalent cancer symptoms. Second goals are to
improve physical and social functioning, lower emotional distress, and improve communication
with family caregiver in symptom management, and assist them to reduce their levels of
depression and burden. This research is funded through a grant from the National Cancer
Institutes, and builds upon the Family Care Research Team's program of supportive
cancer-care research.

OUTCOMES: This study tests a stepped-approach intervention to determine if it improves
symptom outcomes, especially pain and fatigue. Secondary outcomes addressed by the
intervention are physical role impact, social functioning, and emotional distress. These
outcomes can have significant impact on patients and family caregivers' well-being as
patients undergo chemotherapy. The shorter, more intense intervention corresponds to changes
int he clinical management of cancer patient with more intense, shorter chemotherapy
treatments; therefore, this intervention will be more easily translatable to the clinical
setting.