Legal Evaluation for Greater Access to Cancer Care (LEGAL-CARE)

Part of paid clinical trials in Birmingham, Alabama.

Sponsor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Study ID
NCT07197515
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Cancer

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Legal Navigation — BEHAVIORAL
    • Participants will receive monthly outreach from a trained legal navigator over a 6-month period. The legal navigator is a lawyer (Juris Doctor, or JD) who will proactively address specific legal barriers the patient may encounter during treatment. Communication will include phone calls (and if requested, virtual consultations) tailored to patient needs. In between legal outreach periods, patients may call the legal navigator team themselves for legal needs that may arise.

Study Details

This study aims to help patients with cancer facing legal issues. The investigators noticed that many patients struggle with laws and regulations related to disability benefits, employment rules, health insurance denials, and financial assistance barriers among many others. To understand this better, the investigators conducted the first nationwide study on how legal problems affect patients with cancer. Investigators noted a striking prevalence of legal issues in patients with cancer - most struggled with 2 or more legal issues that impacted their care. These legal issues looked different for those with different socioeconomic backgrounds. In a second study, the investigators also found healthcare workers (HCWs) including social workers and navigators feel underprepared to counsel patients on legal topics. Now, the investigators launching a pilot program called LEGAL-CARE at the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to help patients navigate these legal hurdles. Patients in the study will receive legal navigation, where they will get help with legal issues related to their cancer treatment. The investigators will look at how practical or feasible such a program is, and how it affects patients' lives over time. The investigators will check in with the participants at regular time intervals to see if they feel less stressed about money, have a better quality of life, and use healthcare services differently. The investigators will also see if the program helps reduce the number of legal problems they face. Finally, the investigators will discuss with the participants about how this legal intervention could be made better. This study is important because it's the first of its kind. It will give insights into how legal problems impact patients with cancer and how addressing these issues can improve their lives. Plus, it'll help the investigators better understand implementing similar programs in other places. Overall, it's a partnership between O'Neal, national legal assistance organizations, and the Birmingham community to make life easier for people dealing with cancer and legal challenges. Ultimately, the goal will be to take what the investigators learn here to run a larger multi-site trial.

Key Dates

Start date
Oct 1, 2025
Status verified
Feb 2026
Primary completion
Jul 31, 2026
Completion
Jan 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
50 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Arms

  • Experimental: Legal Intervention Arm
    There will be 6 proactive legal intervention cycles. During each, an attorney will proactively reach out to the patient or caregiver via telephone or video call within the first month of enrollment to identify and address legal barriers in areas such as health insurance, financial, disability insurance, employment, and other (estate planning, advanced directives, life insurance, family law). The attorney will guide patients and caregivers through necessary actions, and provide resolution. Baseline, 3, and 6 months surveys will be collected, as well as additional surveys at the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 month check ins with the legal team.

Primary Outcome Measure

Feasibility Benchmarks [ Time Frame: 6 months ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
The Kirklin ClinicBirminghamAlabama35233-

Find similar trials in Birmingham, AL

By research site
The Kirklin Clinic· Birmingham, AL

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