Locus of Control and Spirituality in Palliative Care Patients

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Primary Objectives: To determine whether the degree of spirituality/religiosity as determined by the Duke University Religion Index and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well Being Scale (FACIT-Sp) correlates with internal locus of control as determined by the Locus of Control Scale. To determine the relationships among spiritual-well being, religiosity, hope, depression, and culture, socioeconomic status, and gender in a palliative care setting. To determine if hope and depression in palliative care patients are affected by the degree of intrinsic and extrinsic spirituality/religiosity. To determine if patients who believe in predestination correlate with decreased locus of control, but improved quality of life and degree of religiosity.

Detailed Description
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If you are receiving care in the Palliative Care clinic and are eligible to participate, you will be asked to fill out one-time quality of life surveys, which will take about 40 minutes to complete. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACT-G) survey asks questions about physical and emotional well-being, functional well-being (how much you participate in and enjoy normal daily activities), and social/family well-being. This study first collected questionnaires from 100 participants from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. When the questionnaires were compared, investigators found some interesting differences between the African American and Caucasian participants. To better understand these findings, an additional 67 African American patients are needed to compare the groups. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Spiritual Well-Being Scale (FACT-Sp) asks questions about personal meaning, faith and peace. The Duke University Religion Index (DUREL) asks questions about religious practices. The Locus of Control (LOC) questionnaire asks questions about personal internal control, your views on chance, and your views on power. The Herth Health Scale (HHS) asks questions about hope. The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) asks questions about symptoms you may be experiencing. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) asks questions about your feelings of depression and anxiety. The predetermination questionnaire asks questions about your beliefs about your fate. These eight questionnaires will take about 40 minutes to complete and may be completed at a later time if you become tired. Information about you will also be collected (such as your age and gender). This is an investigational study. About 167 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.

Official Title
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Locus of Control and Spirituality in Palliative Care Patients

Conditions
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Advanced Cancer

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Questionnaire


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Age > 17 years (surveys have not been validated in minors) Expected survival > 6 weeks Patients experiencing acute side effects from chemotherapy (mucositis, emesis, or severe grade 2-3 neuropathy) are not eligible No clinical evidence of cognitive failure, with normal Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). A score of 24 is considered normal Only new patients presenting to the Department of Symptom Control and Palliative Care Center Exclusion Criteria: 1) N/A

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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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Palliative Care Clinic Patients<br>Department of Symptom Control and Palliative Care Center Patients | Behavioral: Questionnaire<br>* 8 questionnaires will take about 40 minutes to complete.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Determination of Spirituality/Religiosity in Correlation With Internal Locus of Control. |  | 40 minutes to complete questionnaires. | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Advanced Cancer, Palliative Care Patients, Spirituality, Locus of Control, Questionnaire