ACP-Family Programme for Palliative Care Patients and Their Family Member

Last updated: October 8, 2024
Sponsor: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Cancer Treatment

Cancer

Treatment

ACP-Family

Clinical Study ID

NCT05935540
ACP2023
  • Ages 18-120
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effectiveness of a structured, family-supported, patient-centred advance care planning (ACP) in palliative care patients and their family members. The main question it aims to answer is: • the effectiveness of the ACP intervention on promoting end-of-life decision making and psychological outcomes in patients and family members. Participants will be assigned to either the ACP-Family group (ACP-Family) to receive a structured, family-supported, patient-centred ACP intervention or usual palliative care (ACP-UC) at the hospital. Researchers will compare the ACP-Family and ACP-UC groups to see if the ACP-Family group will produce better outcomes than the ACP-UC group.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

Patient:

  • aged ≥ 18,

  • receiving palliative care at the study hospitals,

  • able to communicate in Cantonese, and

  • cognitively intact (Abbreviated Mental Test (AMT) score ≥ 7)13 at the time ofrecruitment

Family member:

  • aged≥ 18

  • able to communicate in Cantonese, and

  • nominated by the patient who is likely to make substituted decisions for the patientin future health care issues.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • are engaging in ACP discussion with healthcare professionals in the hospital at thetime of recruitment.

Study Design

Total Participants: 170
Treatment Group(s): 1
Primary Treatment: ACP-Family
Phase:
Study Start date:
September 19, 2023
Estimated Completion Date:
November 30, 2025

Study Description

This is a two-arm parallel randomized controlled trial with follow-ups at 6 and 12 months, aiming to examine the effectiveness of a structured, family-supported, patient-centred ACP programme for adult palliative care patients and their families.

This study will randomize 170 palliative care patients and their family members to the structured, family-supported, patient-centred ACP programme (ACP-Family) or ACP service under usual care (ACP-UC). Within one month, they will receive two 60-90 minute sessions of the family-supported, patient-centred ACP programme covering five elements in ACP discussions delivered by a trained ACP facilitator; or usual care provided by the respective hospital. All discussion sessions in the ACP group will be recorded for quality checking.

It is hypothesized that, as compare to ACP-UC, the ACP-Family group will significantly improve EOL decision making outcomes including (i) prediction accuracy of patient's treatment preferences between palliative care patients and their family members, (ii) new ACP documentation in palliative care patients, and (iii) family-reported patient's EOL care preferences was respected for deceased patients; and 2. psychological outcomes including family member's decision-making confidence, anxiety, depression, and quality of communication regarding EOL, and patient's decisional conflict, and perceived quality of communication regarding EOL.

In addition, 3. we also explore the potential moderating effect of type of hospital setting on the effectiveness of the ACP-Family on these patient and family outcomes.

Connect with a study center

  • Bradbury Hospice

    Hong Kong,
    Hong Kong

    Site Not Available

  • Shatin Hospital

    Hong Kong,
    Hong Kong

    Active - Recruiting

  • United Christian Hospital

    Hong Kong,
    Hong Kong

    Site Not Available

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