NeuroPathways Intervention for Brain Tumor Patients

Study Purpose

This goal of this study is to test an information and support intervention for patients with malignant (or "high-grade") brain tumors. This study was developed to help patients cope after a brain tumor diagnosis. The main question this study aims to answer is whether this intervention (which includes access to an information guide and one-on-one coaching sessions) is feasible (i.e., possible to carry out) and acceptable (i.e., considered helpful) to patients. Participants will be asked to take part in the coaching sessions, use the guide as desired, and complete a small group of short surveys at three different points in time; some participants will be asked to share feedback via exit interviews.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms	No
Study Type An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes. An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes. Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.	Interventional
Eligible Ages	18 Years and Over
Gender	All

More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

- Age ≥18.

- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center patient.

- Within 6 weeks of diagnosis with a primary malignant brain tumor.

- Able to speak and read in English.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Inability to provide informed consent as assessed by the study team (e.g., due to neurological impairment such as severe cognitive impairment/dementia or moderate-to-severe receptive aphasia) - Deemed inappropriate to approach by patient's oncologist or study PI

Trial Details

Trial ID: This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.	NCT05976490
Phase Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans. Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data. Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs. Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.	N/A
Lead Sponsor The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.	Massachusetts General Hospital
Principal Investigator The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.	Deborah A Forst, MD
Principal Investigator Affiliation	Massachusetts General Hospital
Agency Class Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.	Other
Overall Status	Recruiting
Countries	United States
Conditions The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.	Malignant Brain Tumor, Glioma, Coping Skills

Additional Details

This study will be a prospective pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a novel, population-specific intervention designed to help patients with recently-diagnosed malignant brain tumors process and cope with their illness. The specific aims are to 1) refine the NeuroPathways intervention based on feedback from an open pilot study (n=up to 10) with exit interviews, 2) evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of NeuroPathways in a pilot randomized controlled trial (n=40), and 3) explore preliminary effects of the intervention on psychological, behavioral, and cognitive outcomes.

Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: NeuroPathways Open Pilot

Enrolled patients will receive an intervention guide with information about navigating life with a brain tumor diagnosis, and will participate in four weekly or biweekly, individual sessions with a clinician (e.g. nurse or behavioral health specialist). Participants will be asked to complete surveys at baseline, 8 weeks and 12 weeks, as well as an exit interview after the intervention.

Experimental: NeuroPathways Pilot RCT

Active Comparator: Usual supportive care

Participants will receive usual supportive care, which includes referral to cancer center supportive care services (e.g., social work) upon request from the patient, caregiver, or clinician. Participants will be asked to complete surveys at baseline, 8 weeks and 12 weeks.

Interventions

Behavioral: - Information and Support Intervention

Information guide and four one-on-one coaching sessions

Other: - Usual supportive care

Referral to cancer center supportive care services (e.g., social work) upon request from the patient, caregiver, or clinician

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

Boston, Massachusetts

Status

Recruiting

Address

Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114

Site Contact

Deborah Forst, MA

[email protected]

617-726-2000