Developing a Supportive and Palliative Care Intervention for Patients with Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: Protocol of a Multicentre Mixed-methods Study (allo-PaS)

Overview

Journal BMJ Open

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2023 Aug 31

PMID 37652589

Authors

Anne Pralong

Marco Herling

Udo Holtick

Christoph Scheid

Martin Hellmich

Michael Hallek

Berenike Pauli

Alinda Reimer

Carolin Schepers

Steffen T Simon

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Although allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is a curative treatment for many haematological malignancies, it is often associated with a high morbidity and mortality. Yet, little is known about the needs for supportive and palliative care among allo-SCT recipients. Moreover, targeted interventions that reduce symptom burden and suffering are still lacking. The present study aims to inform a supportive-palliative care intervention for patients with allo-SCT and their informal carers by exploring their experience and assessing their needs, especially their existential concerns, regarding four research topics: symptom burden and quality of life; coexistence of a chance for cure and a relevant risk of dying; change in goals of care; dying phase.

Methods And Analysis: This is a descriptive mixed-methods study in progress with a convergent parallel design. Data on the four research topics will be collected and analysed separately in three steps: (1) qualitative semi-structured interviews among 20 patients, 20 informal carers and 12 healthcare providers (HCPs) and focus groups among 12-24 HCPs; (2) a quantitative cross-sectional survey with validated questionnaires and self-developed questions among 100 patients, 100 informal carers and 50 HCPs; (3) a retrospective case analysis of all deceased patients who underwent an allo-SCT between 2010 and 2019, with collection of quantitative and qualitative data. The qualitative and quantitative data sets will be finally merged for comparison and interpretation. Results will serve to develop a supportive-palliative care intervention.

Ethics And Dissemination: The Ethics Commission of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Cologne approved this study (20-1370_2). The study results will be published in peer-review journals, be presented at congresses and will be translated into clinical practice through the development of the palliative-supportive care intervention.

Trial Registration Number: DRKS00027290 (German Clinical Trials Register).

Citing Articles

A cross-sectional survey on health care professionals' approaches, challenges, and support needs when addressing life threat with recipients of an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and with their relatives.

Pralong A, Simon S, Holtick U, Reimer A, Schoerger B, Kaur S Ann Hematol. 2025; 104(1):741-751.

PMID: 39920423 PMC: 11868136. DOI: 10.1007/s00277-025-06211-6.

The life threat in hematopoietic allogeneic stem cell transplantation - an interview and focus group study on health care professionals' perspectives.

Reimer A, Ley M, Schepers C, Pralong A, Schoerger B, Voltz R Ann Hematol. 2024; 103(10):4251-4259.

PMID: 39214931 DOI: 10.1007/s00277-024-05967-7.

Palliative care for patients with hematologic malignancies in Germany: a nationwide survey on everyday practice and influencing factors from the perspective of treating physicians.

Gebel C, Kruschel I, Bodinger S, Simon S, Eichenauer D, Pralong A Ann Hematol. 2024; 103(5):1753-1763.

PMID: 38538976 PMC: 11009764. DOI: 10.1007/s00277-024-05726-8.

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