This is a single center, pilot, randomized, single-blind, usual care controlled, pragmatic clinical trial of a post-ICU palliative care consultation intervention in older (age ≥50 years) survivors of acute respiratory failure. Aim 1: To conduct a pilot post-ICU palliative care consultation intervention trial among frail older ICU survivors and their surrogates. Hypothesis:The Investigators can achieve an adequate enrollment rate, protocol adherence, and intervention fidelity. Aim 2: To estimate effect sizes and variability for changes in symptoms at hospital discharge and 1 month, and to estimate hospice referral rates and acute-care readmission rates at 1 and 3 months. Hypothesis: Effect sizes and feasibility data will inform and support future post-ICU palliative care studies focused on improving ICU survivorship. Exploratory Aim. To assess the use of methylphenidate that is recommended and dosed by the palliative care physician for the treatment of moderate-to-severe fatigue. Hypothesis: (1) Not all patients with moderate-to-severe fatigue will be recommended for methylphenidate therapy. (2) Patients prescribed methylphenidate for treatment of moderate-to-severe fatigue after critical illness will adhere to methylphenidate therapy.
There is an urgent need for research to improve outcomes for the rapidly growing population of older survivors of critical illness. Most adults, including older adults, survive critical illness. While recovery with minimal sequelae occurs, a substantial proportion of survivors are left with physical disability and cognitive impairment, have an increased risk of death, and incur high health care costs after hospital discharge. In prior work the Investigators have shown that about 75% of older survivors of respiratory failure are phenotypically frail and that these frail ICU survivors have a high burden of uncontrolled symptoms at hospital discharge and 1-month later. Moderate to severe post-ICU fatigue is the most prevalent symptom and may interfere with functional recovery. This study is designed to determine whether consultation with a palliative care team may help alleviate any physical symptoms or psychological distress that the patients and their caregivers (surrogates) have coming out of the ICU.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
66
The palliative care consultation team will be led by one of the board-certified palliative care physicians at Columbia University Medical Center. Over one or more visits, the palliative care consultation team will first review intervention participants' medical records and baseline Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) scores. They will also directly assess participants' physical and psychological symptoms. They will provide supportive counseling, make treatment recommendations for burdensome symptoms to the primary team of physicians, and will address goals of care. They will document these activities in structured electronic medical record consultation notes.
Patient-surrogate pairs randomized to usual care will not have a palliative care consultation intervention offered, and will receive care by their primary physicians. However, if a palliative care consultation is requested after randomization to usual care by the primary team of physicians and/or the patient/surrogate, it will be provided.
Columbia University Irving Medical Center
New York, New York, United States
Annual enrollment rate
The number of patients who enroll compared to the number of patients who enroll and decline enrolling over 1 year
Time frame: 1 year
Adherence to the palliative care consultation intervention
Proportion of patient-surrogate pairs randomized to a palliative care consultation who actually agree to have the palliative care consultation prior to hospital discharge.
Time frame: From date of Randomization until the date of hospital discharge or 28 days later.
Crossover from usual care to post-ICU palliative care
Proportion of patient-surrogate pairs randomized to usual care who end up receiving a post-ICU palliative care consultation prior to hospital discharge.
Time frame: From date of Randomization until the date of hospital discharge or 28 days later.
Fidelity of the palliative care intervention
Documentation in electronic medical record consultation notes of (a) burdensome symptoms, (b) supportive counseling, (c) symptom treatment recommendations, and (d) addressing goals-of-care.
Time frame: From date of Randomization until the date of hospital discharge or 28 days later.
Change in Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) scores
Changes in patients' ESAS symptoms (best(0) to worse(10)) from randomization to hospital discharge, and from hospital discharge to 1-month follow-up. ESAS symptoms are: pain, fatigue, drowsiness, nausea, lack of appetite, depression, anxiety, shortness of breath, and wellbeing.
Time frame: Pre-randomization baseline until the date of hospital discharge or 28 days later, and 1-month follow-up after hospital discharge.
Change in Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scores (HADS) for surrogates
Changes in surrogates' HADS scores (best(0) to worst(42)) from randomization to hospital discharge, and from hospital discharge to 1-month follow-up.
Time frame: Pre-randomization baseline until the date of hospital discharge or 28 days later, and 1-month follow-up after hospital discharge.
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