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Van Scoy LJ, Levi BH, Bramble C, Calo W, Chinchilli VM, Currin L, Grant D, Hollenbeak C, Katsaros M, Marlin S, Scott AM, Tucci A, VanDyke E, Wasserman E, Witt P, Green MJ. Comparing two advance care planning conversation activities to motivate advance directive completion in underserved communities across the USA: The Project Talk Trial study protocol for a cluster, randomized controlled trial. Trials 2022; 23:829. [PMID: 36180899 PMCID: PMC9523194 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06746-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advance care planning (ACP) is a process involving conversations between patients, loved ones, and healthcare providers that consider patient preferences for the types of medical therapies received at the end of life. Underserved populations, including Black, Hispanic, rural, and low-income communities are less likely to engage in ACP than other communities, a health inequity that results in lower-quality care and reduced hospice utilization. The purpose of this trial is to compare efficacy of two interventions intended to motivate ACP (particularly advance directive completion) for those living in underserved communities. METHODS This 3-armed cluster, randomized controlled mixed methods design is being conducted in 75 community venues in underserved communities across the USA. The goal of the trial is to compare the efficacy of two interventions at motivating ACP. Arm 1 uses an end-of-life conversation game (Hello); Arm 2 uses a nationally utilized workshop format for ACP conversations (The Conversation Project); and Arm 3 uses an attention control game (TableTopics). Events are held in partnership with 75 local community-based host organizations and will involve 1500 participants (n=20 per event). The primary outcome is completion of a visually verified advance directive at 6 months post-event. Primary analyses compare efficacy of each intervention to each other and the control arm. Secondary mixed methods outcomes include (a) other ACP behaviors and engagement; (b) communication quality; (c) impact of sociocultural environment on ACP (via qualitative interviews); and (d) implementation and sustainability. Subgroup analyses examine outcomes for Black, Hispanic, and rural groups in particular. DISCUSSION This trial will add to the evidence base behind various conversational ACP interventions, examine potential mechanisms of action for such interventions, and provide qualitative data to better understand the sociocultural environment of how community-based ACP interventions are experienced by underserved populations. Results will also provide important data for future researchers to learn whether visual verification of advance directives is necessary or whether reliance on self-reported outcomes is of comparable value. Data from this study will inform ways to effectively motivate underserved communities to participate in advance care planning. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04612738. Registered on October 12, 2020. All information from the WHO Trial Registration Data Set can be found within the protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren J. Van Scoy
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Dr., H-041, Hershey, PA 17033-0850 USA
- Department of Humanities, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17036 USA
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 90 Hope Drive, Academic Support Building, Suite 2200, Mail Code A210, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Benjamin H. Levi
- Department of Humanities, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17036 USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Suite 4400, Mail Code A444, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Cindy Bramble
- Hospice Foundation of America, 1707 L St. NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC, 20036 USA
| | - William Calo
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 90 Hope Drive, Academic Support Building, Suite 2200, Mail Code A210, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Vernon M. Chinchilli
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 90 Hope Drive, Academic Support Building, Suite 2200, Mail Code A210, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Lindsey Currin
- Hospice Foundation of America, 1707 L St. NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC, 20036 USA
| | - Denise Grant
- Hospice Foundation of America, 1707 L St. NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC, 20036 USA
| | - Christopher Hollenbeak
- Department of Health Policy and Administration, The Pennsylvania State University, 604E Donald H. Ford Bldg., University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - Maria Katsaros
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Dr., H-041, Hershey, PA 17033-0850 USA
| | - Sara Marlin
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 90 Hope Drive, Academic Support Building, Suite 2200, Mail Code A210, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Allison M. Scott
- Department of Communication, University of Kentucky, 275 Blazer Dining Hall, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506 USA
| | - Amy Tucci
- Hospice Foundation of America, 1707 L St. NW, Suite 220, Washington, DC, 20036 USA
| | - Erika VanDyke
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Dr., H-041, Hershey, PA 17033-0850 USA
| | - Emily Wasserman
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, 90 Hope Drive, Academic Support Building, Suite 2200, Mail Code A210, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Pamela Witt
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Dr., H-041, Hershey, PA 17033-0850 USA
| | - Michael J. Green
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Dr., H-041, Hershey, PA 17033-0850 USA
- Department of Humanities, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA 17036 USA
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