LiverPAL: A Trial of Inpatient Palliative Care for Patients With Advanced Liver Disease

Description

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether early integration of palliative care in the care of hospitalized patients with advanced liver disease (AdvLD) can improve patients' quality of life, physical symptoms, mood, and serious illness communication. Palliative care is a medical specialty focused on lessening (or "palliating") symptoms and assisting in coping with serious illness.

Conditions

Liver Disease Chronic, End Stage Liver DIsease, Cirrhosis, Cirrhosis, Liver, Advanced Cirrhosis

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether early integration of palliative care in the care of hospitalized patients with advanced liver disease (AdvLD) can improve patients' quality of life, physical symptoms, mood, and serious illness communication. Palliative care is a medical specialty focused on lessening (or "palliating") symptoms and assisting in coping with serious illness.

LiverPAL: A Randomized Trial of Inpatient Palliative Care for Patients With Advanced Liver Disease

LiverPAL: A Trial of Inpatient Palliative Care for Patients With Advanced Liver Disease

Condition
Liver Disease Chronic
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Boston

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • 1. Hospitalized patient with a diagnosis of advanced liver disease, defined as cirrhosis with one of the following (new or ongoing) within the prior six months from date of consent:
  • * Ascites (requiring diuretics or serial large volume paracenteses)
  • * Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis
  • * Hepatic hydrothorax (requiring diuretics)
  • * Variceal bleed (with one or more occurrences)
  • * Overt hepatic encephalopathy (requiring medications)
  • 2. Ability to comprehend English
  • 1. Prior history of liver transplantation
  • 2. Have uncontrolled hepatic encephalopathy, cognitive impairment, psychiatric disorder or other comorbid condition which the primary medical, hepatology, and/or transplant surgery teams believes prohibits the ability to provide informed consent
  • 3. Current or recent (within 5 years of receiving curative cancer treatment) history of extrahepatic malignancy (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer)
  • 4. Presence of hepatocellular carcinoma beyond Milan criteria
  • 5. Are already receiving hospice care
  • 6. Receive a score of \<10 on the Simplified Animal Naming Test
  • 1. Adult caregiver (≥ 18 years of age)
  • 2. A relative or friend identified by the patient upon whom the patient relies for help and who likely is to be present in-person during hospitalizations or clinic appointments, or willing to participate by phone
  • 3. Ability to comprehend English and can complete questionnaires
  • 1. Inability to comprehend English

Ages Eligible for Study

18 Years to

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Collaborators and Investigators

Massachusetts General Hospital,

Nneka Ufere, MD MSCE, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Massachusetts General Hospital

Study Record Dates

2027-07