RecruitingNot ApplicableNCT05935540

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

Effects of a Structured, Family-supported, Patient-centred Advance Care Planning for End-of-life Decision Among Palliative Care Patients and Their Family Members: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Sponsor

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Enrollment

170 participants

Start Date

Sep 19, 2023

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Conditions

Palliative Care

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

Min Age: 18 YearsMax Age: 120 Years

Inclusion Criteria9

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 of recruitment
Family member:
aged≥ 18
able to communicate in Cantonese, and
nominated by the patient who is likely to make substituted decisions for the patient in future health care issues.

Exclusion Criteria1

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

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Interventions

OTHERACP-Family

It consists of two sessions (45-60 mins) to be delivered within one month in a face-to-face format as long as the patient is still in the hospital. The treatment will be continued in the patient's home if he/she is discharged before the two sessions are completed. The treatment will cover five elements in ACP, namely (1) patients' understanding of their illness, (2) patients' values and beliefs underpinning care preferences, (3) possible health conditions in the future, (4) introducing the idea of AD and its arrangement, and (5) construction of the role of substituted decision maker. A 3-min video on end-of-life treatment options will be shown to help patients and family members to clearly understand the related topic. However, there will be no restriction on the order of the five topics to be discussed during the intervention.