An observational study in Metastatic Breast Cancer and End of Life, sponsored by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-09-24.
Sponsored by UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center · Observational
I this qualitative study, Investigators will conduct semi-structured interviews with clinicians that are involved in the care of patients with breast cancer to evaluate the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility/usability of a metastatic breast cancer-specific prognostic tool. These interviews will be conducted by the UNC CHAI Core and will continue until thematic saturation (estimated 10 participants). The investigators will code the qualitative data using emerging themes, guided by a well-established implementation science theory, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). The information gained from these studies will inform an implementation approach to increase the usability and acceptability of a novel prognostic tool to assist oncologists in the prognosis of patients with metastatic breast cancer.
If this study is successful, Investigators will implement an MBC-specific prognostic tool to help clinicians identify patients who are at high risk of death in the next 30 days. Based on the input from clinicians in this proposal, as well as additional qualitative studies with patients and families, Investigators will design an implementation protocol to inform how to use this tool in clinical practice. Rather than simply publishing a prognostic tool that may not be adopted into practice, this project aims to ensure successful implementation of an evidence-based tool into the routine care of patients with MBC. Doing so will serve as an important step towards identifying high-risk patients and connecting ort to ensure high-quality, patient-centered end-of-life care.
Clinician participants will include physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurse navigators. Participants will be recruited from the UNC Medical Center breast oncology group as well as other practices identified by the Principal Investigator based on existing professional networks (referring physicians, other UNC oncology entities, collaborative groups).
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants will include: physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurse navigators. Participants will be recruited from the UNC Medical Center breast oncology group as well as other practices identified by the Principal Investigator based on existing professional networks (referring physicians, other UNC oncology entities, collaborative groups).
Behavioral: Clinician Qualitative Interview
Interviews will be conducted by experienced qualitative researchers from the UNC Connected Health for Applications \& Interventions (CHAI) Core. The interview will be conducted over the phone or secure videoconferencing. The interview will be conducted in a semi-structured fashion using an interview guide. However, because the purpose of this semi-structured qualitative interview study is to determine which themes participants identify as important, the exact content of each interview will differ, and the interview guide will be modified as additional interviews are conducted. Interviews will be audio recorded with concurrent notetaking by the interviewer.
Key barriers for use a metastatic breast cancer-specific prognostic tool
Study Investigators have developed a metastatic breast cancer (MBC)-specific prognostic calculator using the ASCO CancerLinQ Discovery database to help oncologists better estimate prognosis in MBC patients. Key barriers using this metastatic breast cancer-specific prognostic tool will be identified, through semi-structured qualitative interviews with oncology clinicians.
Time frame: 12 months
Key facilitators for use of a metastatic breast cancer-specific prognostic tool
Study Investigators have developed a metastatic breast cancer (MBC)-specific prognostic calculator using the ASCO CancerLinQ Discovery database to help oncologists better estimate prognosis in MBC patients. Key facilitators using this metastatic breast cancer-specific prognostic tool will be identified, through semi-structured qualitative interviews with oncology clinicians.
Time frame: 12 months
Key barriers for discussion of prognosis between oncology clinicians and patients with metastatic breast cancer
Key barriers for discussion of prognosis between oncology clinicians and patients with metastatic breast cancer will be identified, through semi-structured qualitative interviews with oncology clinicians.
Time frame: 12 months
Key facilitators for discussion of prognosis between oncology clinicians and patients with metastatic breast cancer
Key facilitators for discussion of prognosis between oncology clinicians and patients with metastatic breast cancer will be identified, through semi-structured qualitative interviews with oncology clinicians.
Time frame: 12 months
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center