Use of Online Communications to Support Patients and Their Families in the Hospice Unit

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The increasing awareness of the importance of palliative care has led, in Israel, to the 2005 Law for the Rights of Persons with Terminal Illness. Still, problems of accessibility to palliative care remain unresolved. The use of e-health services is likely to expand the ability of the medical, psychosocial and nursing staff to reach patients who are either living in the periphery, are unable to make clinic visits or whose family members are housebound in order to be caregivers. This exploratory research is designed to explore the issues, barriers and advantages of e-health care through the perspective of the palliative care staff members, the patients themselves and their caregiving family members.

Detailed Description
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This study is designed to test the applicability and suitability of e-health services (e.g. by use of SKYPE) to the psychosocial needs of patients and their families who are getting services through home hospice care. In addition, the attitudes of the hospice staff will be investigated to the use of e-health methods. The study will clarify selection criteria, referral pathways and barriers and/or supporting elements that will allow e-health services to be provided in a highly professional fashion. Up to 20 dyads of a patient and their primary caregiver will be recruited from those who are receiving services from the home hospice unit of the Kupat Holim Clalit (General Sick Fund) in the South of Israel.

Official Title
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Use of Online Communications to Support Patients and Their Families in the Hospice Unit

Conditions
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Palliative Care

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: psychosocial intervention


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Patient currently receiving care from the home hospice unit, over the age of 18, able to give informed consent, with a computer that can use SKYPE or a smartphone, speaking a language of the psychosocial staff person (Hebrew, English, Russian, Arabic). Exclusion Criteria: Brain tumors, dementia, speech disturbance, refusal to participate, language other than the four spoken by psychosocial staff members, inability to use technology or lack of computer in the home.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Intervention group: All dyads are in the intervention arm.<br> | Other: psychosocial intervention<br>* e-health services (e.g. by use of SKYPE) to the psychosocial needs of patients and their families who are getting services through home hospice care. In addition, the attitudes of the hospice staff will be investigated to the use of e-health methods.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SWAT - The social work assessment tool | Tool to assess the quality of social work psychosocial services | One year | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EIS (Emotional Intimacy Scale) | assess the emotional intimacy component a close relationship | 6 month | 
| SLDS (Satisfaction with cancer scale) | assess cancer patient quality of life | 6 month | 
| the will to live question | assess the will to live in a specific time point | 6 month | 
| ZBI (Zarit burden scale), | assess primary care burden | 6 month | 
| attitudes toward use of e-therapy questionnaire. | estimate attitudes of professional care giver | 6 month | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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palliative care, e-health, e-therapy, psychosocial services