Development and Evaluation of a New Palliative Care Service for People Severely Affected With Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Sponsor

King's College London (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT00364936

Collaborator

National Multiple Sclerosis Society (Other)

Enrollment

Location

Duration (Months)

1.6

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The primary purpose of this study is to develop, implement and conduct a preliminary evaluation of a new service for people who are severely affected by multiple sclerosis. The investigators conducted open interviews with patients, families and staff, plus a literature review to model and pilot this new service. Then the investigators developed, tested and ran the service and will evaluate it using a randomised controlled trial, where people affected by MS are randomised to either receive the service immediately (fast track group) or after a three month wait (standard best practice). This methodology follows that of the Medical Research Council (MRC) framework for the development and evaluation of complex services and treatments. The investigators interview people and their carers in the fast track and standard practice groups, and followed them over time. This phase of trial enables us to calculate sample size and test proof of concept for a full randomised trial. However, our working hypothesis was that there would be no difference between those people who received the fast track service or the standard best practice in terms of symptom controlled, and carer needs.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Multiple Sclerosis	Procedure: Palliative care service	Phase 1/Phase 2

Detailed Description

Palliative care has been proposed to help meet the needs of patients who suffer progressive non-cancer conditions but this has not been tested. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system affecting over 2.5 million people worldwide, and is the commonest cause of neurological disability in adults under 60 years. It is associated with a wide spectrum of physical symptoms, including loss of function of legs, arms and in many instances bladder and bowel dysfunction, pain, spasms, swallowing and communication and cognitive difficulties, many of which are as severe as among patients with cancer. Therefore it seems appropriate to try to develop palliative care services for this group of patients.

Our design followed the MRC Framework for the Evaluation of Complex Interventions. The investigators modelled a new palliative care and neurology service for patients affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS) by conducting qualitative interviews with patients, families and staff, plus a literature review to model and pilot the service. Then the investigators started to offer the service and designed a delayed intervention randomised controlled trial to test its effectiveness as part of phase II of the MRC framework. Inclusion criteria for the trial were patients identified by referring clinicians as having unresolved symptoms or psychological concerns. A disability of scoring greater than 8 on the Expanded Disability Scale was identified as a benchmark. Consenting patients newly referred to the new service were randomised to either receive the palliative care service immediately (fast-track) or after a 12-week wait (standard best practice). Face to face interviews were conducted at baseline (before intervention), and at 4-6, 10-12 (before intervention for the standard-practice group), 16-18 and 22-24 weeks with patients and their carers using standard questionnaires to assess symptoms, palliative care outcomes, function, service use and open comments. The investigators choice of outcomes was based on a systematic literature review of outcome measures.

Study Design

Study Type:

Interventional

Actual Enrollment :

52 participants

Allocation:

Randomized

Intervention Model:

Crossover Assignment

Masking:

None (Open Label)

Primary Purpose:

Treatment

Official Title:

Proposal to Create a Flagship Neurology and Palliative Care Service for South London

Study Start Date :

Mar 1, 2004

Study Completion Date :

Dec 1, 2006

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Palliative Care Outcome Scale - Symptoms [12 weeks]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Self-reported quality of life [12 weeks]
Impact of MS [12 weeks]
Psychosocial palliative care outcomes [12 weeks]
use of health and social services [12 weeks]
Experience of hospital services [12 weeks]
Carer burden and satisfaction [12 weeks]
Costs (formal and informal) [12 weeks]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

N/A and Older

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Inclusion Criteria:

Diagnosis of MS
Living in South East London
Having possible palliative care needs. Referrers were encouraged to identify people as severely affected with MS based on their clinical need, rather than relying on any standardised measures of disability. However, since a large Canadian population study identified that approximately 15% of people with MS have an Expanded Disability Scale Score of 8 or more (out of a possible 10)23, this was also suggested to referrers as a benchmark for disability that would prompt consideration of referral. Examples of palliative care needs were given as unresolved symptoms, psychosocial concerns, and end of life issues, progressive illness or complex needs.

Exclusion Criteria:

patients deemed as having urgent needs (following independent review by a consultant in palliative medicine) because of rapid deterioration or severe symptoms - these were seen immediately by the service.

Contacts and Locations

Locations

	Site	City	State	Country	Postal Code
1	King's College Hospital	London		United Kingdom	SE5 9RJ

Sponsors and Collaborators

King's College London
National Multiple Sclerosis Society

Investigators

Principal Investigator: Polly Edmonds, FRCP, King's College Hospital / King's College London
Study Chair: Irene J Higginson, BMBS FRCP FFPHM PhD, King's College London