The COMPASSION Study
The COMPASSION Study: Applying Telehealth to Innovate and Strengthen Connections for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Hospice Care
Who can join
As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.
- Age
- 18 Years and older
- Sex
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Compensation
- Not stated
Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.
What to expect
No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.
What participation involves
- Procedures mentioned: Questionnaires, Phone or video check-ins
Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.
Show the study's own words
- "Study procedures include giving verbal consent to participate and a one-time survey delivered by email or phone call."
- Compensation
- Not stated
- Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
- Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
- Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
- Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.
About this study
In plain language
The COMPASSION Study looks at the home hospice experience using video or phone check-ins with patients, caregivers, and cancer care teams. It is for adults with advanced breast cancer who are starting home hospice in Massachusetts. Hospice is care focused on comfort near the end of life.
The aim of this research study is to better understand the in-home hospice experience for participants, caregivers, hospice nurses, and oncology providers by conducting telehealth check-ins between participants and caregivers and oncology care teams.
Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.
Eligibility
Who can join
- Have breast cancer that has spread nearby and cannot be removed by surgery, or has spread to other parts of the body. People of any gender may join.
- Qualify for home hospice and be referred by the DFCI care team no more than 1 week before joining.
- Be able to take part in video or phone check-ins, with help if needed.
- Be able to give spoken consent to join and be willing to take a survey at 4–6 weeks, if well enough.
- Receive home hospice care in Massachusetts.
- If you use a language other than English, have an interpreter at each meeting. The scheduling team will arrange this.
- Be willing to share a caregiver’s or loved one’s contact details so they can be contacted for a survey 4 weeks after you join.
Who can't join
- Cannot give spoken consent to join.
- Plan to receive hospice care somewhere other than home. You may still take part if you start hospice at home and later move to care in a facility.
- Receive hospice care outside Massachusetts.
- Are younger than 18.
Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.
Official eligibility criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient of any gender with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer * Eligible for in-home hospice services and referred by DFCI clinical team to in-home hospice \</= 1 week before enrollment * Ability to conduct video or phone check-ins, even if assistance required. * Able to provide verbal consent with a willingness to take a survey at 4-6 weeks, if medically able * Hospice setting is within Massachusetts * Non-English language allowed but interpreter services must be present at each meeting and will be coordinated by scheduling team * Willingness to provide a caregiver/loved one's contact information for survey contact at 4 weeks after enrollment Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to provide verbal consent * Hospice care planned outside of a home setting (note: if participants start out in a home hospice setting but later transition their hospice care to an inpatient setting, enrollment is allowed as long as they started in a home setting) * Hospice setting outside of Massachusetts * Individuals who are under the age of 18, as this is not a project focused on pediatric patients.
Study sites (1)
MA
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute · Boston, MA 02215Claire Smith, MD · Study contact · 617-632-3800 · claire_smith@dfci.harvard.eduClaire Smith, MD · Principal investigatorMore trials in Boston