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NCT Number: NCT06985953

Evaluating the Communication Between Patients and Providers in Cancer Clinics

This clinical trial seeks to understand patients' experiences with the healthcare team and the quality of communication between patients and doctors in cancer clinics. The main question it aims to answer is:

* Does TrialTalk™ improve communication between providers and patients?

Participants will complete questionnaires before and after their standard of care clinic visit.

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Key information

Conditions

Cancer Behavior Communication Neoplasms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois, United States

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About this study

The online TrialTalk™ training system uses evidence-based principles and best practices for instructional design for adult learners. The system uses a four-stage learning goal framework (i.e., knowledge, skill, understanding, and application) to ensure that the training moves from rote knowledge- and skill acquisition to integration, application, ownership, and long-term memory in clinical practice. The first module introduces the TrialTalk™ framework, why it's relevant and effective to patients and providers and describes the learning goals for the rest of the course. The second module focuses on essential elements of the TrialTalk™ conversation process through examples, metaphors, and description, followed by exercises at the end of the module that solidify the basic concepts of the conversational process. The third module focuses on the essential components of the diagram, how it integrates with the conversational process, and how to use it in a patient meeting. A set of assessment and reflection questions at the end of module 3 reinforces the concepts and components of the diagram. The fourth module brings all the TrialTalk™ elements together through case studies that exemplify how the conversational process and diagram work together in different types of patient meetings (for example, a new patient versus an established patient). Assessment and reflection questions at the end of module 4 focus on integrating and using the TrialTalk™ method in practice. Learners also develop a three-day action plan to begin to use TrialTalk™ with their patients. The TrialTalk™ training system provides learning resources to physicians such as a self-assessment rubric, FAQs, a checklist, and diagram template.

TrialTalk™ intervention includes two components: provider-focused skills-based training to ensure providers' competency in using the conversational and diagrammatic aspects of TrialTalk™, and the patient-facing component, which is the TrialTalk™ tool itself, to help patients understand their prognosis and treatment options in order to make a shared informed decision about their cancer management.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

- Providers:

  • Hematologists, medical oncologists, or hematology/oncology fellows
  • Willing to complete TrialTalk™ training

Inclusion criteria

- Patients:

  • ≥ 18 years old
  • have a confirmed diagnosis of cancer
  • identify as Black, African American, or non-Hispanic White
  • potentially eligible for a therapeutic phase I, II or III clinical trial
  • can read and understand English to complete the study questionnaires
  • had previous visits with the enrolled provider

Exclusion criteria

- Providers:

  • providers who received previous training in the TrialTalk™ method or used it in practice before will be excluded

Exclusion criteria

- Patients:

  • previous enrollment in cancer intervention clinical trial
  • have moderate to severe cognitive impairment

Treatment and study plan

TrialTalk™

Other

TrialTalk™ is a communication tool that focuses on making the options visible and accessible while involving patients in the discussion.

Primary outcomes

  1. Fidelity - Providers

    Time frame: Monthly for 6 months

    Fidelity to the tool by providers is measured by a 9 item qualitative questionnaire, asking how many times and how providers used TrialTalk™ when talking with their patients.

  2. Sustainability of TrialTalk™ communication tool

    Time frame: 1 year

    Providers will answer a 3 item questionnaire regarding their use of TrialTalk™. Items are scored on a 5 point Likert scale, where 1 = not at all and 5 = very much. Higher scores indicate better sustainability of the tool.

  3. Change in quality of communication

    Time frame: Up to 2 hours

    Patient participants will rate the quality of communication they receive from their provider. They will answer a 13 item questionnaire with a 6-point Likert scale, where 0= not done and 5 = excellent. Scores range from 0-65, with higher scores indicating better communication.

  4. Change in trust of provider

    Time frame: Up to 2 hours

    Patient participants will rate how much they trust their provider using a 6 item questionnaire. Scores are on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 = not at all and 5 = extremely. Scores range from 6-30, with higher scores indicating greater trust.

  5. Usefulness of tool

    Time frame: Up to 2 hours

    Patient participants will complete a 7 item questionnaire about the visual diagram created with their provider. It is scored on a 5-point Likert scale, where 1 = not at all and 5 = extremely. Scores range from 7-35, with higher scores indicating greater usefulness.

  6. Understanding of treatment options

    Time frame: Up to 2 hours

    Patient participants will answer 9 yes or no questions regarding how well they understood the options presented to them during the visit.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Cancer Connect

CONTACT

[email protected]

800-622-8922

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Wisconsin, Madison

Other

Collaborators

  • Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluating the Impact of TrialTalkTM; to Foster Equitable Cancer Care

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2027
Study completion
2027
First posted
May 22, 2025
Registry last updated
Mar 25, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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