Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42332712›Full record

Trial reportBMC palliative care2026

Adapting a palliative care intervention for people with advanced cancer across seven European countries: the Pal-Cycles intervention.

Rachel Hooley, Sheila Payne, Holger Brunsch, Severine Marie Surges, Daniela Mosoiu, Flavia Hurducas, Pablo Hernández-Marrero, Sandra Martins Pereira, Ágnes Csikós, Éva Pozsgai and 5 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC palliative care, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06259136 (Palliative Care Yields Cancer Wellbeing Support), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06259136 narecruitingnot on this map

Palliative Care Yields Cancer Wellbeing Support

TypeinterventionalSponsorRadboud University Medical CenterRan2024 to 2027Enrolled1,050ConditionsCancerArmsA transitional palliative care intervention
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

15 authors.

Rachel HooleyInternational Observatory on End of Life Care, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
Sheila PayneInternational Observatory on End of Life Care, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK.
Holger BrunschDepartment of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Severine Marie SurgesDepartment of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Daniela MosoiuMedical Faculty, Transilvania University, Brasov, Romania.
Flavia HurducasEducation and National Development Department, Hospice Casa Sperantei, Brasov, Romania.
Pablo Hernández-MarreroUniversidade Católica Portuguesa, Católica Porto Business School, CEGE: Research Center in Management and Economics - Ethics and Sustainability Research Area, Porto, Portugal.
Sandra Martins PereiraUniversidade Católica Portuguesa, Católica Porto Business School, CEGE: Research Center in Management and Economics - Ethics and Sustainability Research Area, Porto, Portugal.
Ágnes CsikósInstitute of Primary Health Care, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
Éva PozsgaiInstitute of Primary Health Care, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary.
Wojciech LeppertChair of Palliative Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland.
Maria Forycka-AstChair of Palliative Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Góra, Poland.
Pippa van den BrandDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Jeroen HasselaarDepartment of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Nancy PrestonInternational Observatory on End of Life Care, Division of Health Research, Faculty of Health and Medicine, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK. n.j.preston@lancaster.ac.uk.

Funding

Horizon Europe Guarantee UKRI 10038822Horizon Europe programme of the European Union 101057243
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundInternational adaptation of healthcare interventions requires sensitivity to local contexts, especially in palliative care, where healthcare systems and cultural expectations about end of life differ widely. Pal-Cycles is an intervention that aims to improve transitions in care for patients with advanced cancer. This intervention was adapted for implementation in a stepped wedge trial across seven European countries (Germany, Hungary, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and the UK). This paper aims to illustrate the process of adapting a palliative care intervention (Pal-Cycles) to meet the needs of those using healthcare settings across seven European countries.

methodsAdapted nominal group techniques (a structured group method that supports idea generation, discussion, and prioritisation) were used, involving both in-country and cross-country adaptation meetings focused on the five key components of the original intervention design, to ensure cultural sensitivity and best fit All countries established a group of clinicians and all except two countries (Portugal and Hungary) involved groups of patients and families. The adaptation process occurred in a series of 5 meetings, which were mostly held online to accommodate participants' schedules.

resultsA total of 36 clinicians, 14 patients or family members, and 16 facilitators participated in the adaptation process over a four-month period. Structured guidance and iterative consultation meetings ensured that the final intervention was both standardised and adaptable to each country's healthcare setting. We produced a standardised intervention manual based on a theory of change model, ensuring consistency across countries while allowing for contextual flexibility.

conclusionsThis paper provides guidance for future cross-cultural adaptation of palliative care interventions, illustrating the value of detailed methodological planning, structured guidance, and multi-stakeholder engagement in the adaptation process.

trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT06259136, registered on 6 February 2024.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsPalliative CareEuropeFemaleGermanyHumansHungaryNetherlandsPolandPortugalRomaniaUnited KingdomAdvanced cancerCross-culturalCultural sensitivityEnd of lifeFamily membersHealthcareHealthcare systemsPalliative carePatientsStakeholder engagement

Identifiers

PMID42332712
PMCPMC13289543

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.