New program aims to cut hospital visits by helping cancer patients speak up
NCT ID NCT07278739
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Sep 11, 2026 · Updated 6 times
Summary
This trial tests an educational program called A-PACT for people with solid tumors who are at high risk of decline. Trained lay health workers coach patients on how to discuss their care goals and end-of-life wishes with their medical team. The study will see if this reduces unplanned hospital stays and improves communication. About 1,020 participants will be randomly assigned to receive A-PACT or usual care.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Educational program (A-PACT) with lay health worker coaching
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this program could help cancer patients have better conversations with their doctors about what matters most, potentially reducing stressful hospital visits.
- What could go wrong
- This is a behavioral intervention, not a drug; its benefits depend on patient engagement and may not change hard outcomes like survival. The trial is not yet recruiting, so results are years away.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 1,020 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Aug 2026
- Expected to finish
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Jul 2032
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A research network
The lead sponsor is a research network or cooperative group.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must have a diagnosis of a solid tumor malignancy of any stage * Participants must be identified as high risk, defined as having 6 month mortality estimate from machine learning (ML) algorithm \>= 20% * Participants must not be receiving or have pre-existing plans to enter hospice care at the time of study registration * Participant must be actively receiving or planning to receive systemic anti-cancer therapy (defined as any oral, injection, or intravenous therapy against cancer) within 3 months after registration * NOTE: This includes chemotherapy (conventional or cytotoxic chemotherapy), hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy * NOTE: Participants are allowed to be co-enrolled on other clinical trials including trials using investigational agents * Participants must be \>= 18 years of age at the time of study enrollment * Participants who can complete Patient Reported Outcome (PRO) questionnaires in English or Spanish must be willing to 1) complete PROs at all scheduled assessments; and 2) complete the pre-registration (baseline) PRO forms within 14 days prior to registration * Participants must be able to provide a valid telephone number for the purpose of being contacted by the lay health worker * NOTE: As a part of the Oncology Patient Enrollment Network (OPEN) registration process the treating institution's identity is provided in order to ensure that the current (within 365 days) date of institutional review board approval for this study has been entered in the system * Patient and clinician participants must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and must sign and give informed consent in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines. This protocol does not permit use of Legally Authorized Representative NOTE: For this study, in the OPEN registration, clinician participants will be listed as their own treating investigator. However, clinician participants must not consent themselves or sign their own eligibility criteria forms
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
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Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Locations
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CARTI Cancer Center
RECRUITINGLittle Rock, Arkansas, 72205, United States
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
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