BOLSTER: Learning New Skills to Thrive

{ "BOLSTER: Learning New Skills for Advanced Cancer", "This study is testing a program called BOLSTER, which helps people with advanced gynecological or gastrointestinal (GI) cancers and their care partners. The BOLSTER program involves six telehealth sessions led by a nurse to help you and your care partner learn skills, manage symptoms, and cope with challenges. Care partners will have two additional sessions. Researchers want to see if BOLSTER can improve your quality of life. You may be able to join if you are 18 or older, have advanced GI or gynecologic cancer, and have a new or complex care need. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll about 600 people.", "design": "This is a multi-center, randomized study, meaning participants are assigned by chance to different groups. About 300 patient-caregiver pairs are expected to participate.", "commitments": "You will participate in screening, complete questionnaires, and have telehealth visits. Your participation in this study is expected to last about 12 weeks.", "compensation": "Not stated in the trial record.", "follow_up": "Your quality of life will be measured from the start of the study to 6 weeks after discharge.", }

Study design: Not specified.
What's involved: Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Not specified.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

BOLSTER: Learning New Skills to Thrive

Recruiting

NAAges 18+InterventionalHealth services

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

~600 participants

Updated 2026-06-18 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:BOLSTER Program

At a glance

Recruiting sites

2 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 1)

Measured over Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge

+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Gastrointestinal Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Advanced Cancer

Where it's being run

2 sites across 2 states

Massachusetts1

Texas1

Study leadership

Alexi Wright, MD MPH · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Who to contact

Alexi Wright, MD, MPH

[email protected]

617-632-2334

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age ≥18 years

Currently hospitalized with skilled care need or have acquired a new skilled care need as an outpatient

Diagnosed with advanced gastrointestinal cancer (esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, hepatobiliary, colorectal, unknown GI primary, anal) or advanced gynecologic cancer (ovarian, endometrial, cervical, vaginal, vulvar)

Has a complex care need (e.g., ostomy, ileostomy, urostomy, nephrostomy, biliary drain, venting gastric tube, feeding tube, intraabdominal or pleural catheter, wound VAC)

Plans to receive ongoing cancer treatment

Has a family caregiver or friend (hereafter designated family caregiver) willing to participate

Able to speak and read English or Spanish (self-report)

Are willing to be audio-recorded

Have the cognitive/physical ability to participate in a 60-minute interview

Age ≥ 18 years

Identified by a patient (as defined above) as a family or friend who is involved in their care.

Willing to participate in study visits

Willing to be audio recorded

Exclusion

Has cognitive impairments (as determined by the patient's oncologist)

Planning to enroll in hospice

Unable to complete baseline survey

Adults unable to consent

Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers)

Prisoners

Unable to complete baseline survey

Adults unable to consent

Individuals who are not yet adults (infants, children, teenagers)

Prisoners

What this trial measures

Change in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) Score from Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 1)Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge
Assessed by the FACT-G, a 27-item scale designed to measure physical, emotional, social, functional, and family well-being in patients with life-limiting cancer. Answers are rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 "Not At All" to 4 "Very Much" with a total scores range of 0 to 108. Higher scores indicate better quality of life.
Change in FACT-G Score From Baseline to Week 6 (Arm 2)Baseline to 6 weeks post-discharge
Assessed by the FACT-G, a 27-item scale designed to measure physical, emotional, social, functional, and family well-being in patients with life-limiting cancer. Answers are rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 0 "Not At All" to 4 "Very Much" with a total scores range of 0 to 108. Higher scores indicate better quality of life.

Trialytics