The PRoCESS Trial

WHAT IS THIS STUDY ABOUT?

Caring for someone diagnosed with pancreatic cancer can be very difficult; many people have a high need for extra support. The Pancreatic cancer Relatives Counselling and Education Support Service or PRoCESS trial aims to explore whether talking to a trained nurse-counsellor via video or phone is helpful.

WHO IS RUNNING THIS SUPPORT SERVICE TRIAL?

Researchers at the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, the University of Queensland, and the Queensland University of Technology are running this trial in collaboration with our service delivery partners, PanKind, The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.  

WHAT WILL I HAVE TO DO TO TAKE PART?

We will give you detailed information before you decide to take part in. Some brief information is below.

BEFORE STARTING

Before starting the study we will ask you to sign some consent forms and complete a survey about your experience of caring for someone with cancer. We will ask if the person you care for would like to participate too.

DURING THE STUDY

Carers

You will be allocated to one of the two study groups:

  1. Counselling and education support service + information package
  2. Information package

The Support Service

If you are allocated to the group receiving the support service you will be offered 10 counselling and education sessions over four months.

Our nurse-counsellor will call you via video conferencing (e.g. zoom) or telephone at a time that suits you.

Our nurse will work with you to identify the things that you are finding most difficult. S/he will then give you some strategies that might help you to manage these.

Carer and Patient Data Collection

We will ask you to complete 3 more surveys about how you feel at 2, 4, and 6 months after the first survey. Each month for 6 months we will telephone you to ask about any health services you have used. We will also ask for permission to access medical information that is held in government datasets; this will help us to assess whether the support service is cost-effective to the healthcare system.  

It is optional for the person with cancer you care for to also complete 4 surveys and/or give permission to access their medical records too.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

You are invited to participate if you:

  • Are a relative or friend who is the primary carer for a person diagnosed with pancreatic cancer
  • Live in Australia
  • Are willing to complete at least 6 counselling and education sessions with our nurse-counsellor

Note: If you are the patient of a carer who is participating in the trial you can choose to take part in none, one or more of the data collection components outlined above.

RECRUITMENT STATUS: CLOSED