Decision Support Training for Advanced Cancer Family Caregivers: The CASCADE Factorial Trial

FAMILY CAREGIVERS

Inclusion Criteria:

1. ≥21 years of age;
2. self-endorsing or identified by the patient as "a relative, friend, or partner that has a close relationship with you and who assists you with your medical decisions and who may or may not live in the same residence as you and who is not paid for their help";
3. caring for a patient with advanced-stage cancer (see definition under Patient Inclusion criteria below);
4. caregivers will need to have an agreeable patient willing to participate in the study for data collection; and
5. English-speaking and able to complete baseline measures.

Exclusion Criteria:

1\) Self-reported mental illness (i.e., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder), dementia, active suicidal ideation, uncorrected hearing loss, or active substance abuse.

PATIENTS

Inclusion Criteria:

1. ≥21 years of age;
2. diagnosed within 60 days of initial screening with an advanced cancer, defined as metastatic and/or recurrent/progressive stage III/IV cancer, including brain, lung, breast, gynecologic, head and neck, gastrointestinal, genitourinary cancer, melanoma, and hematologic malignancies.

Exclusion Criteria:

1\) Medical record documentation of active severe mental illness (i.e., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or major depressive disorder), dementia, active suicidal ideation, uncorrected hearing loss, or active substance abuse.