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Exploring Indications and Practices of Administering Artificial Hydration to Terminal Cancer Patients in Taiwan

NCT06329856 · Status: RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 1270

Last updated 2025-02-14

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background: The issue of artificial hydration for terminal cancer patients is a classic ethical dilemma in palliative care. It is a common practice especially when patients are incapable of oral intake; however, there is a lack of research on indications and practices for the provision of artificial hydration to terminal cancer patients in Taiwan. The investigators aim to conduct a nationwide survey of palliative care physicians on their indications (general or specific), and practices of providing artificial hydration to terminal cancer patients. With that understanding of reasoning and clinical practice, the investigators would further establish an indigenous, evidence-based consensus guideline to serve as a reference for physicians in Taiwan.

Methods: The study is comprised of two parts. The first part is to conduct a nationwide survey of palliative and oncology care specialists with a questionnaire designed from literature reviews and principles of clinical ethics. After validation of the questionnaire, the investigators will e-mail it to members of the Taiwan Academy of Hospice Palliative Medicine and the Taiwan Society of Cancer Palliative Medicine. The primary outcome measure of the study is the indication and clinical practice of artificial hydration, and the secondary outcome is factors associated with the administration or withdrawal of hydration.

The second part is to establish a national consensus on clinical guidelines for administering artificial hydration, where the investigators will conduct a modified Delphi method for 6 rounds. Literature reviews will be first performed and 14 sessions of one-to-one interviews in Round 1 to develop a draft. Subsequent rounds comprise questionnaire surveys among all panelists, teleconferences and e-mail discussions among core members, and cancer patients/patients' family discussions. Statistical criteria include median and disagreement scores according to the Inter-Percentile Range Adjusted for Symmetry. Items voted for by 70% or more panelists will be selected and formalized into a consensus guideline.

Expected results: The investigators hypothesize that the indication to administer artificial hydration to the terminal cancer patient is multi-factorial and culturally based.

Conclusion: The establishment of a consensus guideline will help clinicians to make an appropriate decision from ethical, medical, cultural, and emotional factors and facilitate cancer patients to achieve a good quality of dying.

Conditions

  • Terminal Cancer
  • Hospice
  • Palliative Medicine

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Administering of artificial hydration

Administering of artificial hydration to terminal cancer patients

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Taiwan University Hospital

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Shao-Yi Cheng · Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine and Hospital, National Taiwan University

Eligibility

Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2024-08-15
Primary Completion
2024-12-10
Completion
2026-07-31

Countries

  • Taiwan

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06329856 on ClinicalTrials.gov