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RecruitingInterventional

BOLSTER: Strengthening Patient and Caregiver Supports in Advanced Gynecologic and Gastrointestinal Cancers

NCT ID: NCT06936878Sponsor: Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteLast updated: 2026-06-18

Summary

This research study is evaluating a new program called Building Out Lifelines for Safety, Trust, Empowerment, and Renewal or (BOLSTER), which was designed to support participants with a gynecological or gastrointestinal cancer and new and complex care needs.

Detailed description

This multi-center, randomized trial is to test the efficacy of the BOLSTER Program and to improve participant quality of life (QOL), alleviate symptoms, reduce burden, and decrease the need for hospital care in participants with complex care needs from advanced gastrointestinal and gynecologic (GI/GYN) cancers. The research study procedures include screening for eligibility, questionnaires, and telehealth visits. Participation in this research study is expected to last about 12 weeks. About 300 dyads (patients with family caregivers) are expected to participate in this research study. The National Cancer Institute is funding this research study by providing funding.

Arms & interventions

  • BehavioralBOLSTER Program

    This supportive care program includes six telehealth sessions led by a trained nurse to help patients with advanced gynecological or gastrointestinal cancers and their care partners build skills, manage symptoms, and cope with challenges. Two additional sessions will be help support care partners. Participants will also get access to the BOLSTER website, which offers personalized educational materials to support their well-being

Outcome measures

Primary

  • Change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 1)

    Assessed by the FACT-G, a 27-item scale designed to measure physical, emotional, social, functional, and family well-being in patients with life-limiting cancer. Answers are rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 "Not At All" to 4 "Very Much" with a total scores range of 0 to 108. Higher scores indicate better quality of life.

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in FACT-G Score From Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 2)

    Assessed by the FACT-G, a 27-item scale designed to measure physical, emotional, social, functional, and family well-being in patients with life-limiting cancer. Answers are rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 "Not At All" to 4 "Very Much" with a total scores range of 0 to 108. Higher scores indicate better quality of life.

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

Secondary

  • Change in FACT-G Score From Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in FACT-G Score From Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General 7 item Version (FACT-G7) Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in FACT-G7 Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in FACT-G7 Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in FACT-G7 Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Conditions Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Conditions Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Conditions Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant Self-Efficacy for Managing Chronic Conditions Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Health Care Utilization from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Health Care Utilization from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Advanced care planning (ACP) from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Advanced care planning (ACP) from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HADS) Anxiety Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant HADS Anxiety Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant HADS Anxiety Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant HADS Anxiety Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant HADS Depression Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant HADS Depression Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant HADS Depression Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Participant HADS Depression Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Caregiver Perception of Quality of End-of-Life Care

    Time frame: Up to 12 weeks

  • Change in Caregiver Short Form ZARIT Burden Interview (ZBI-12) Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver ZBI-12 Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver ZBI-12 Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver ZBI-12 Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver HADS Anxiety Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver HADS Anxiety Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver HADS Anxiety Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver HADS Anxiety Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver HADS Depression Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver HADS Depression Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver HADS Depression Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver HADS Depression Subscale Score from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver-Patient Activation from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver-Patient Activation from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver-Patient Activation from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 1)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

  • Change in Caregiver-Patient Activation from Baseline to Week 12 (Arm 2)

    Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks post-discharge

Eligibility criteria

Sex: AllAge: 18 Years and olderHealthy volunteers: No
Participant Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years * Currently hospitalized with skilled care need or have acquired a new skilled care need as an outpatient * Diagnosed with advanced gastrointestinal cancer (esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, colorectal, unknown GI primary, anal) or advanced gynecologic cancer (ovarian, endometrial, cervical, vaginal, vulvar) * Has a complex care need (e.g., ostomy, ileostomy, urostomy, nephrostomy, biliary drain, venting gastric tube, feeding tube, intraabdominal or pleural catheter, wound VAC) * Plans to receive ongoing cancer treatment * Has a family caregiver or friend (hereafter designated family caregiver) willing to participate * Able to speak and read English or Spanish (self-report) * Are willing to be audio-recorded * Have the cognitive/physical ability to participate in a 60-minute interview Family or Caregiver Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥ 18 years * Identified by a patient (as defined above) as a family or friend who is involved in their care. * Willing to participate in study visits * Willing to be audio recorded Participant Exclusion Criteria: * Has cognitive impairments (as determined by the patient's oncologist) * Planning to enroll in hospice * Unable to complete baseline survey * Adults unable to consent * Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers) * Prisoners Family or Caregiver Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to complete baseline survey * Adults unable to consent * Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers) * Prisoners

Study locations (2)

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215

Recruiting
Alexi Wright, MD, MPH · Contact
Alexi Wright, MD, MPH · Principal Investigator

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030

Recruiting
Larissa Meyer, MD · Contact
Maria Iniesta-Donate, MD, PhD · Contact
BOLSTER: Learning New Skills to Thrive | Cancerify