Psychooncology. 2026 Nov;35(11):e70650. doi: 10.1002/pon.70650.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Medical-legal partnerships can address health-harming legal needs (HHLNs) but caregiver-inclusive models are understudied.
AIMS: To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy in addressing HHLNs of proactive legal care for patient-caregiver dyads.
METHODS: This single-arm pilot trial (NCT07153016) enrolled patients with advanced-stage colorectal cancer and their self-nominated caregiver. Cancer Legal Care (CLC) provided personalized legal checkups and 3-month follow-up at no cost. Feasibility was assessed by rates of initial checkup, 3-month engagement, and receipt of legal service. Acceptability was assessed by likelihood of recommending the intervention to others. Participant-reported outcomes, implementation measures, and interviews were summarized.
RESULTS: We enrolled 9 of 10 planned dyads. Among the 9 enrolled, 8 completed baseline surveys, 7 completed initial legal checkups, and 7 completed 3-month assessments. Initial legal checkups lasted a median of 45 minutes, and CLC provided median 4 hours of legal service per dyad. At baseline, 7 of 16 participants self-identified HHLNs, while CLC identified 1.7 additional HHLNs per dyad. The study met predefined feasibility benchmarks [initial engagement (16/18, 89%), 3-month questionnaire completion (14/18, 78%), and receipt of ≥ 1 legal service (14/18, 78%)] and acceptability (12/14, 86% recommended the intervention) benchmarks. Dyads noted improvements in financial control, support-seeking, and maintaining daily activities; however, caregiver-specific needs were not consistently identified or prioritized.
CONCLUSIONS: Proactive legal care for recently diagnosed patient-caregiver dyads was feasible and acceptable, and identified and addressed HHLNs. However, caregiver-inclusive medical-legal partnership models may require caregiver-specific intake, longitudinal follow-up, and clearer distinction between patient, caregiver, and shared needs.
PMID:42993070 | DOI:10.1002/pon.70650
