TQ-PAL Development and Validation

NCT06588933 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Our Lady's Hospice
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Taste problems are common among patients with advanced cancer. These symptoms can affect the pleasure of eating and drinking, reduce dietary intake, cause low mood, and a lower quality of life. There is no validated tool to assess taste disturbances and their impact on patients with advanced cancer. This study will develop and validate a novel assessment tool to assess taste disturbances and their impact on patients with advanced cancer.

Conditions

Altered Taste

Keywords

neoplasm

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• To develop a novel assessment tool to assess taste disturbances in patients with advanced cancer

  To develop the Taste Questionnaire in Palliative Care (TQ-PAL) to assess taste disturbances and their impact on patients with palliative care. It's domains include the effect on food intake, social inclusion, and quality of life

  December 2025

• To validate the newly developed Taste Questionnaire in Palliative Care (TQ-PAL)

  To test the TQ-PAL for face, content, construct, convergent and reliability validation.

  December 2025

Interventions

completion of a questionnaire OTHER

completion of a questionnaire by participant

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients who are currently under the care of oncology or palliative care who have an incurable cancer. Patients will be identified by the clinical teams at the study sites, informed about the study, and (if interested in taking part in the study) referred to the research team. Participants will be screened for inclusion by asking 1. Over the past 2 weeks have you experienced taste problems?" If yes to the question, "How severe was it? (Options- Slight/Moderate/Severe/Very severe)". Patients must score as moderate/severe/very severe

You may qualify if:

• years of age Diagnosis of locally advanced or metastatic cancer Referred to palliative care/oncology services Taste problems rated 'moderate' or worse over previous 2-week period Good understanding of English

You may not qualify if:

• Cognitive impairment (unable to provide consent / complete questionnaire) Taste problems precedes cancer diagnosis. Head and neck surgery Head and neck radiotherapy Salivary gland disorders (e.g., Sjogren's Syndrome) In the 'Deteriorating' or 'Terminal' Phase of illness

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Prof Andrew Davies: lead

Study Sites (1)

Our Lady's Hospice & Care Services

Dublin, D6WRY72, Ireland

RECRUITING

Related Publications (4)

• Hannon M, Shaw A, Connolly M, Davies A. Taste disturbance in patients with advanced cancer: a scoping review of clinical features and complications. Support Care Cancer. 2023 Sep 6;31(10):562. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-08012-x.

  PMID: 37672147 BACKGROUND

• McGettigan N, Dhuibhir PU, Barrett M, Sui J, Balding L, Higgins S, O'Leary N, Kennedy A, Walsh D. Subjective and Objective Assessment of Taste and Smell Sensation in Advanced Cancer. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2019 Aug;36(8):688-696. doi: 10.1177/1049909119832836. Epub 2019 Mar 3.

  PMID: 30827119 BACKGROUND

• Hutton JL, Baracos VE, Wismer WV. Chemosensory dysfunction is a primary factor in the evolution of declining nutritional status and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2007 Feb;33(2):156-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2006.07.017.

  PMID: 17280921 BACKGROUND

• Kirkova J, Walsh D, Rybicki L, Davis MP, Aktas A, Tao Jin, Homsi J. Symptom severity and distress in advanced cancer. Palliat Med. 2010 Apr;24(3):330-9. doi: 10.1177/0269216309356380. Epub 2009 Dec 16.

  PMID: 20015920 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Dysgeusia; Neoplasms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Taste Disorders; Sensation Disorders; Neurologic Manifestations; Nervous System Diseases; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Andrew Davies, FRCP

  Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Andrew Davies, FRCP

CONTACT

014986235; andavies@tcd.ie

Marie Hannon, BSc

CONTACT

014068720; marie.hannon@ucdconnect.ie

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor of Palliative Medicine

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 5, 2024
• First Posted: September 19, 2024
• Study Start: September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2025
• Study Completion: December 31, 2025
• Last Updated: September 19, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IE (1)