Project Title

Evaluation of Dyadic Psychoeducational Interventions for people with Advanced Cancer and Informal Caregivers (DIAdIC): An international randomised controlled trial

Research Focus

Evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two psychoeducational interventions designed to support the patient with advanced cancer and their carer together

Funder & Dates

Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme EU.3.1.3

1^st January 2019 – 31^st December 2023.

Principal Investigator or Primary Supervisor (if PhD project)

The Principle investigator for the QUB aspect of this multinational project is Professor Kevin Brazil

Co-Investigators or additional supervisors

Professor Joanne Reid

Dr Gillian Prue

Research Fellow(s) or PhD Student

Dr David Scott

Name & Institution of Collaborators

Professor Joachim Cohen, Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium.

Professor Agnes van der Heide, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Professor Richard Harding, Kings College, London, UK.

Professor Luc Deliens, Ghent University, Belgium.

Professor Massimo Costantini, Reggio Emilia Local Health Unit, Italy

Professor Mogens Groenvold, Copenhagen University, Denmark.

Professor Charles Normand, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.

Professor Philip Larkin, University College Dublin, Ireland.

Dr Julie Ling, European Association of Palliative Care, Vilvoorde, Belgium.

Ms Isabelle Manneh-Vangramberen, European Cancer Patient Coalition, Vilvoorde, Belgium.

Name of External Partner Organisations

European Association of Palliative Care.

European Cancer Patient Coalition

Description of Project:

Aim; Methods; Expected Outcomes

The DIAdIC project is an interdisciplinary, cross-national project to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two psycho-educational dyadic interventions, i.e. interventions that target the patient and family caregiver together. One intervention is a web-based e-health intervention, one is nurse-led face-to-face intervention. Secondary aims are to assess the interventions' effects on vulnerable subgroups (e.g. people with a lower socioeconomic position), their effectiveness in different healthcare systems, and their suitability as perceived by end-users.

Concept and methods: The two interventions are tailored to dyads' needs and have 5 core components: (1) supporting family involvement, (2) reducing hopelessness, (3) increasing coping effectiveness, (4) reducing uncertainty and (5) teaching symptom management. They are based on existing interventions, developed in the USA, that have been shown to improve quality of life of both patient and family caregiver. The effectiveness of each of the interventions (compared to care as usual) will be assessed by way of an international randomized controlled trial in people with advanced cancer and their primary informal carers. The project includes a full health-economic evaluation and a thorough process evaluation.

The project advances the state of the art in several ways, e.g. by providing innovative healthcare interventions (including an eHealth solution) that embrace the philosophy and principles of early palliative care. The interventions will be suitable for implementation across diverse healthcare systems. Public involvement methods ensure the input of stakeholders throughout the project.

Add links/URLs to external pages, e.g., study webpage, reports, publications etc.

https://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/220954/factsheet/en

Any other relevant information