Clinical trial NCT01011140: Physician Perceptions About Parenteral Hydration in Latin America and Spain
Official title: Physician Perceptions About Parenteral Hydration in Latin America and Spain: A Survey of Physicians Affiliated With the Latin American Association for Palliative Care (ALCP) and the Spanish Society for Palliative Care (SECPAL)
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: UNKNOWN
Conditions: Dehydration
Advanced Cancers
Keywords: Parenteral Hydration
Latin American Association for Palliative Care
ALCP
Spanish Society for Palliative Care
SECPAL
Online survey
Palliative care
Physicians' attitudes
End of life
Latin America
Spain
Lead sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2009-11-11
Enrollment: 516
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: OTHER
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Physicians affiliated with the Latin American Association for Palliative Care (ALCP) and the Spanish Society for Palliative Care (SECPAL)

Brief summary: The purpose of this study is to assess palliative care physicians' attitudes, beliefs and practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life in Latin America and Spain.

Objectives:

1. To assess palliative care physicians' attitudes, beliefs and practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life in Latin America and Spain.
2. To assess cross-national differences in practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life. (Latin America vs. Spain).
3. To determine the percentage of physicians who practice parenteral hydration at the end-of-life in the hospital setting and the home setting.
4. To examine the association between providers' parenteral hydration practice patterns and:

   * 1. provider demographic characteristics;
   * 2. specific characteristics of their practice settings; and
   * 3. training and experience in end of life care;
5. To determine which factors most predict the practice of parenteral hydration at the end of life among palliative care physicians.

Detailed description: This study is a collaboration between MD Anderson's Departments of Palliative care and Rehabilitation Medicine, Health Disparities Research, the Latin American Association for Palliative Care (ALCP) and the Spanish Society for Palliative Care (SECPAL). The proposed study involves a 10-15 minute online survey of palliative care physicians from Latin America and Spain to assess their attitudes, beliefs and practice patterns related to parenteral hydration at the end of life.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

1. Palliative care physicians practicing in Latin America and Spain and affiliated with either the ALCP or SECPAL.
2. Physicians must report dedicating at least 30% of their practice to palliative care.
3. Physician must be 18 years of age or older.

Exclusion Criteria:

1) None

Primary outcomes:
measure: Percentage of terminally ill cancer patients overall that receive an order of parenteral hydration as reported by physicians
timeFrame: Online Survey, completion any time during estimated 2 month period
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Houston
country: United States
facility: University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
state: Texas
Study officials:
affiliation: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
name: Isabel Torres, MPH, DRPH
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References: