Study for Patients with High Risk Leukemias or Myelodysplastic Syndrome to Start Supportive Care Earlier in the Treatment Regimen

The University of Virginia Cancer Center is conducting a clinical research study for patients who are adults with either acute leukemia or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who are either over age 65 OR have received treatment but the treatment either didn’t work or stopped working. The purpose of this study is to estimate the potential benefit of early and continued palliative care consultation in this population. Participants in this study will be randomized (like flipping a coin) to receive either standard palliative (supportive) care consultation as they would if they were not in the study or to receive palliative (supportive) care earlier in their treatment.

Participants in the early supportive care group will participate in regular visits with a supportive care specialist, while participants in the standard care group will only see a palliative care specialist if the clinician requests a referral. Supportive care visits will be timed to be convenient for patients and may be done remotely (virtually) if needed. Participants in both groups will be asked to complete questionnaires regarding their general well-being on a monthly basis.

Participants will be on the study as long as they are still seeing their clinical care team at UVA. The length of time people are on the study will vary. Palliative care visits for both groups of participants will be charged to the patient/participant or his/her/their insurance.

Additional information can be found here: UVA Palliative Care Intervention - clinicaltrials.gov