Applying the Multiphase Optimization Strategy for the Development of Optimized Interventions in Palliative Care

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care Research
• Health Services Research
• Intervention Science

Background:

• Multicomponent palliative care interventions show benefits but lack clarity on key elements and mechanisms.
• Traditional randomized controlled trials (RCTs) treat interventions as bundles, hindering analysis of individual components and interactions.
• Developing effective, efficient, and scalable palliative care requires novel research strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and apply the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) and factorial trial design in palliative care research.
• To provide insights from a pilot factorial trial (Project CASCADE) of an early palliative care intervention.
• To enhance decision support skills for advanced cancer family caregivers.

Main Methods:

• Overview of the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) framework.
• Application of MOST principles to palliative care research.
• Description of a pilot factorial trial design for an early palliative care intervention.

Main Results:

• The study highlights the utility of MOST and factorial trials in optimizing interventions.
• Insights gained from Project CASCADE inform future palliative care research.
• The pilot trial demonstrated the feasibility of evaluating intervention components.

Conclusions:

• MOST and factorial trials are valuable for identifying effective and efficient intervention components.
• These approaches can lead to more scalable and impactful palliative care interventions.
• Further research using MOST is recommended to advance palliative care.