Focusing on patient empowerment to improve palliative care communication in oncology: a theorybased behavioral intervention trial

10-2024 to 30-2027

Although palliative care leads to improved quality of life in people with cancer, it is often initiated too late or not at all. So far, studies focusing on timely initiation of palliative care are often doing so from a health service and professional carer perspective. What is lacking are studies using a health promotion approach and focusing on patients’ behavior. Theory-driven behavioral research and interventions prove effective in health promotion and could help to more successfully change behaviors of people with cancer, e.g. timely communication about palliative care which is now frequently postponed or avoided, potentially enhancing their care outcomes. 

As part of Anne-Lore's PhD FWO fellowship, she conducted a mixed-methods research and developed a theory-based behavioral intervention that supports people with advanced cancer in taking the initiative to start a conversation about palliative care with their physician and supports physicians in reacting appropriately. 

This postdoc proposal is a logical and needed continuation in which Anne-Lore will evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention through a multicentric randomized controlled trial study and its implementation processes and understand the mechanisms of action. This evaluation is important to optimize the intervention and avoid unintended effects. If this intervention is effective and widely disseminated, it will improve patient empowerment, patient-centred care and quality of life in people with cancer

Research Foundation Flanders