computer-based survey and communication aid in improving physician-patient communication and treatment decision making in patients with metastatic cancer

Conditions: Metastatic Cancer; Unspecified Adult Solid Tumor, Protocol Specific

Summary: rationale: a computer-based survey and communication aid may help physicians and patients to communicate better and help make treatment decisions easier. purpose: this phase iii randomized clinical trial is studying how well giving a computer-based survey together with a communication aid works compared to a computer-based survey alone in improving physician-patient communication and treatment decision making in patients with metastatic cancer.

objectives: * compare satisfaction with physician-patient communication and decisional conflict in patients with metastatic cancer undergoing a computer-based survey with vs without a communication aid. * compare patient expectations regarding potential benefits and adverse reactions associated with treatment options in patients undergoing the computer-based survey and communication aid. * compare the content of physician-patient consultations in patients undergoing the computer-based survey and communication aid. outline: this is a randomized, controlled, multicenter study. patients are randomized to 1 of 3 study arms. * arm i (generic computer-based survey): patients complete a 45- to 60-minute generic computer-based survey that assesses demographics, familiarity and comfort with computers, treatment history, and affective elements. * arm ii (targeted computer-based survey and communication aid with physician summary report): patients complete a 45- to 60-minute targeted computer-based survey assessing patient values, information needs, and distress. patients then complete a targeted computer-based communication aid that addresses cognitive and affective components of cancer treatment education and provides communication skills training. after completion of the survey and communication aid, a summary report of the survey results is generated and provided to the patient's physician. * arm iii (targeted computer-based survey and communication aid): patients complete a targeted computer-based survey and communication aid as in arm ii. no summary report is provided to the physician. after completion of a computer-based survey and communication aid, all patients undergo a consultation with their physician. a randomized subset of 25% of physician consultations\* are audiotaped and later analyzed. patients complete a 15-minute written survey after completion of the physician consultation and then at 3 months. note: \*patients are stratified according to study arm (i vs ii vs iii) and consulting physician gender for this randomization. projected accrual: a total of 720 patients will be accrued for this study.

Eligibility criteria:
disease characteristics: * documented metastatic malignancy * first visit with medical oncologist at study site patient characteristics: performance status * not specified life expectancy * not specified hematopoietic * not specified hepatic * not specified renal * not specified other * able to read and speak english prior concurrent therapy: not specified

Keywords: unspecified adult solid tumor, protocol specific metastatic cancer