This study aims to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and ethical implications of a family-supported palliative care model in patients with advanced lung cancer. A single-center, parallel-group randomized controlled trial was conducted, in which 110 eligible patients were randomly assigned to either a routine nursing care group or a family-supported palliative care group for an 8-week intervention period.
The intervention integrates structured family involvement, palliative care education, shared decision-making support, psychological counseling, symptom management, and nutritional guidance. The primary outcome is quality of life assessed by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L). Secondary outcomes include decisional conflict (DCS), hope level (HHI), anxiety and depression (SAS/SDS), nutritional indicators (albumin and prealbumin), and pain- and inflammation-related biomarkers (substance P, prostaglandin E2, dopamine, and C-reactive protein).
This study seeks to determine whether structured family engagement can improve patient-centered outcomes, reduce decisional conflict, enhance psychological well-being, and support ethically sound shared decision-making in the context of advanced cancer care.