Support Program for Veterans with Lung Cancer to Improve Quality of Life and Care

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether additional support from a lay health worker can improve the quality of life for Veterans with lung cancer. This study focuses on those newly diagnosed or receiving treatment, or who have completed treatment within the past 12 months. It also aims to assess if this support reduces emergency and hospital visits, affects anxiety and depression, patient activation, and communication about care goals. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group receives usual care from their oncology clinical team. The other group receives usual care plus weekly telephone calls from a trained lay health worker for six months. These calls help with healthcare planning, symptom management, and discussions about care preferences and goals. All participants will complete surveys at the start of the study and every three months for one year. Researchers will review health-related quality of life, emergency department visits, hospitalizations, anxiety and depression levels, patient activation, documentation of goals of care, and use of palliative or hospice care. The study will last 12 months per participant with ongoing assessments throughout.

Engagement of Veterans With Lung Cancer