The goal of this cluster randomized controlled trial is to examine the effectiveness of a nurse-led advance care planning (ACP) intervention on improving ACP discussion uptake in residential care homes (RCHs). The main question it aims to answer is: The effectiveness of nurse-led advance care planning (ACP) interventions implemented on eligible residents in residential care homes on improving ACP discussion uptake in this population. Compared to participants in the control group who will only receive usual care with no ACP intervention, residents and their family members in the intervention group will be invited to attend the ICP meeting with ACP discussion. The ACP discussion will be guided by the established protocol, which was developed by the expert panel and delivered by trained nurses.
Targeted issue: The lack of ACP discussion and poor dyadic congruence pose challenges to the provision of good EOL care in Hong Kong RCHs. Population: RCHs in Hong Kong with nurse-to-resident ratios ≥1:3 will be targeted to ensure adequate staffing to carry out ACP. Eligible participants have to be age 65 or older and be able to communicate in Cantonese or Mandarin. Participants will also be invited to identify family members involved in making decisions about their care to participate in the intervention. Intervention: a nurse-led advance care planning (ACP) intervention Main study aim: To implement a nurse-led ACP intervention for improving ACP uptake in RCH residents in Hong Kong to bridge the evidence-practice gap. Study method: This implementation science study will use a mixed methods approach, including a pair-matched cluster-RCT and qualitative interviews, and relevant outcomes will be followed for up to 2 years. RCHs will be randomized into two groups: a nurse-led ACP intervention group and a control group with usual care only.The ACP documentation (i.e., new documentation related to ACP and EOL care) in medical records of all RCH residents in the intervention and control groups will be audited by the research team at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1; after the ACP intervention), 1-year follow-up (T2; 1 year after the launch of the ACP intervention at the RCH), and 2-year follow-up (T3; 2 years after the launch of the ACP intervention at the RCH).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
164
An ACP discussion between the participating resident, family members, and the trained nurse will be incorporated into the annual review. The proposed ACP intervention will be divided into three parts (three weekly sessions, 1.5 hours each): 1) preparatory, 2) discussion, and 3) follow-up sessions.
The University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
RECRUITINGChange from Baseline in Chart review at post-intervention
The medical records of all RCH residents will be audited at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1; after the ACP intervention), 1-year follow-up (T2; 1 year after the launch of the ACP intervention at the RCH), and 2-year follow-up (T3; 2 years after the launch of the ACP intervention at the RCH). The following information will be extracted: ACP documentation (primary outcome; i.e., new documentation related to ACP and EOL care); designated surrogate decision-maker; AD completion; and healthcare utilization (i.e., number of inpatient hospitalizations, emergency department visits, intensive care unit admissions and length of stay, mechanical intubation rates and in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation rates during the 6 months before death, place of death). The information specific to ACP intervention will only be extracted in residents who participated in ACP intervention: concordance on EOL preferences ; and concordance between preferred and actual outcomes of EOL care.
Time frame: baseline and immediately after the intervention
Change from Baseline in Chart review at 1-year follow-up time point.
The medical records of all RCH residents will be audited at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1; after the ACP intervention), 1-year follow-up (T2; 1 year after the launch of the ACP intervention at the RCH), and 2-year follow-up (T3; 2 years after the launch of the ACP intervention at the RCH). The following information will be extracted: ACP documentation (primary outcome; i.e., new documentation related to ACP and EOL care); designated surrogate decision-maker; AD completion; and healthcare utilization (i.e., number of inpatient hospitalizations, emergency department visits, intensive care unit admissions and length of stay, mechanical intubation rates and in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation rates during the 6 months before death, place of death). The information specific to ACP intervention will only be extracted in residents who participated in ACP intervention: concordance on EOL preferences ; and concordance between preferred and actual outcomes of EOL care.
Time frame: 1-year follow-up (i.e., 1 year after the launch of the ACP intervention)
Change from Baseline in Chart review at 2-year follow-up time point.
The medical records of all RCH residents will be audited at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1; after the ACP intervention), 1-year follow-up (T2; 1 year after the launch of the ACP intervention at the RCH), and 2-year follow-up (T3; 2 years after the launch of the ACP intervention at the RCH). The following information will be extracted: ACP documentation (primary outcome; i.e., new documentation related to ACP and EOL care); designated surrogate decision-maker; AD completion; and healthcare utilization (i.e., number of inpatient hospitalizations, emergency department visits, intensive care unit admissions and length of stay, mechanical intubation rates and in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation rates during the 6 months before death, place of death). The information specific to ACP intervention will only be extracted in residents who participated in ACP intervention: concordance on EOL preferences ; and concordance between preferred and actual outcomes of EOL care.
Time frame: 2-year follow-up (i.e., 2 years after the launch of the ACP intervention at the RCH).
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