A Chaplain-clinician Led Spiritual Care (PEACE) Intervention on Spiritual/Religious Beliefs Related to Medical Care in Patients With Advanced Cancer: a Pilot Clinical Trial

Primary Objectives

(Phase 1): To examine the feasibility and acceptability of a Chaplain-Clinician led spiritual care (PEACE: Perception, Exploring, Addressing, Compassionate Connection, Embracing) intervention in patients with advanced cancer admitted to a comprehensive cancer center in a single-arm pilot trial. Evaluation of feasibility will be per ≥70% participation in all sessions.

Acceptability will be assessed as ≥70% reporting satisfaction and ≥70% recommending PEACE intervention to others at the post-treatment assessment.

(Phase 2): To examine the within-group change in the influence of spiritual/religious beliefs on medical care (Question 2 in the Religious Beliefs in End-of-Life Medical Care [RBEC] tool: I will accept every possible medical treatment because my faith tells me to do everything I can to stay alive longer) from baseline to post-intervention assessments at 2 + 1 days in participants who participate in the PEACE intervention group and the usual care group.

Eligibility Criteria

• Participants with advanced cancer (locally advanced, metastatic, recurrent, or incurable) seen by the participant supportive/palliative care mobile team at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
• Respond "somewhat to A great deal" to the question in the RBEC questionnaire "I will accept every possible medical treatment because my faith tells me to do everything I can to stay alive longer".
• Participant s aged 18 years or over.
• Karnofsky performance status ≥30% at time of inclusion into study.
• Normal cognitive status as determined by the supportive care clinicians based on the ability to understand the nature of the study and consent process.
• Only English-speaking, as determined by their ability to understand the informed consent, the intervention, and the assessment tools.