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Table 1 Inclusion and exclusion criteria for oncologists, patients, and caregivers

From: Values and options in cancer care (VOICE): study design and rationale for a patient-centered communication and decision-making intervention for physicians, patients with advanced cancer, and their caregivers

Participant

Inclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria

Oncologist

Currently in clinical practice at participating institutions

Non-physicians and physicians who are not oncologists

Oncologist that cares for patients with solid tumors

Oncologists who exclusively care for patients with hematological malignancies

Not planning to leave the practice during the next 6 months

Patient

Currently a patient of an enrolled physician

Anticipating bone marrow transplantation or diagnosed with leukemia or lymphoma

Age 21 years or older

Diagnosis of Stage III or IV solid (non-hematological) cancer a

Unable to complete orally-administered surveys in English

Able to understand spoken English (study personnel to read materials to low literacy patients)

Hospitalized or in hospice care at recruitment or for baseline measures

Caregiver

Caregiver of a patient currently enrolled in the study

Unable to complete orally-administered surveys in English

 

Age 21 years or older

Supported the patient primarily through a professional role (e.g., clergy)

 

Able to understand spoken English (study personnel to read materials to low literacy caregivers)

  1. a Patients with Stage III cancer are included only if they have a limited prognosis. Their oncologist must affirm that they “would not be surprised” if the patient died within 12 months, thereby excluding patients with potentially curable Stage III cancers, such as Stage IIIc testicular cancer or Stage IIIa colon cancer.