NCT02702284

Brief Summary

The ability to communicate with patients is profoundly impacted by their health literacy - the ability to interpret documents, read and write prose, use quantitative information and speak and listen effectively. Limited health literacy is commonplace and associated with multiple poor health outcomes including frequent readmission's and high mortality. Advance directives are an important tool in respecting patient autonomy in health care interventions. Advance directives can also reduce health care costs by avoiding unwanted, unnecessary care at the end of life. At the University of Florida (UF) Health currently an initiative is underway to improve the delivery of advance directives to patients in the hospital as well as the outpatient clinics. The aim of this research study is to enhance completion rates of advance directives by taking into consideration a patient's health literacy level. Specifically, the investigators plan to assess the impact of an ambulatory intervention on the completion rate of advance directives for patients with adequate and limited health literacy. The hypothesis is that both groups (adequate and limited health literacy) will benefit from the intervention, but patients with limited health literacy will show a greater improvement in the advance directives completion rate.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
529

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2017

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

February 29, 2016

Completed
8 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

March 8, 2016

Completed
1.2 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 5, 2017

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

November 15, 2018

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

November 15, 2018

Completed
Last Updated

November 19, 2018

Status Verified

November 1, 2018

Enrollment Period

1.4 years

First QC Date

February 29, 2016

Last Update Submit

November 15, 2018

Conditions

Keywords

Advance DirectivesHealthcare power of attorney

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Presence of advance directive scanned into electronic medical record

    The research assistant will review the subject's electronic medical record for a copy of a signed advance directive.

    6 months from enrollment

Secondary Outcomes (2)

  • Number of reminder phone calls needed

    6 months

  • Client Evaluation of Services Questionnaire

    day of study

Study Arms (4)

Adequate health literacy, control

OTHER

This group of subjects will be referred to clinic staff for assistance with the advance directives (AD) and will not receive assistance from a research assistant. In addition, the research assistance will ask questions regarding the information received for the AD.

Behavioral: Advance Directives without assistance

Adequate health literacy, intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

The subjects in this group will hear a research assistant review the advance directive and be offered an opportunity to watch a video about advance directives.

Behavioral: Advance Directives

Limited health literacy, control

OTHER

This group of subjects will be referred to clinic staff for assistance with the advance directives (AD) and will not receive assistance from a research assistant. In addition, the research assistance will ask questions regarding the information received for the AD.

Behavioral: Advance Directives without assistance

Limited health literacy, intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

The subjects in this group will hear a research assistant review the advance directive and be offered an opportunity to watch a video about advance directives.

Behavioral: Advance Directives

Interventions

These subject's will have a research assistant (RA) review and walk through the advance directives brochure. The RA will read all of the brochure to the patient and prompt for questions. In addition, a link to an educational video on advance directives. The advance directive link will be either texted or emailed or given in paper per the subject's preference.

Also known as: Living will
Adequate health literacy, interventionLimited health literacy, intervention

This group of subjects will be provided with the advance directive and then referred to clinic staff for assistance.

Also known as: Living will
Adequate health literacy, controlLimited health literacy, control

Eligibility Criteria

Age51 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • No advance directive in electronic medical record,
  • speaks English,
  • has intact cognitive function

You may not qualify if:

  • Age 50 or under,
  • already has an advance directive in electronic medical record,
  • does not speak English,
  • cognitive dysfunction

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

Tower Hill Internal Medicine

Gainesville, Florida, 32607, United States

Location

Internal Medicine at Medical Plaza

Gainesville, Florida, 32610, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

  • Barker PC, Holland NP, Shore O, Cook RL, Zhang Y, Warring CD, Hagen MG. The Effect of Health Literacy on a Brief Intervention to Improve Advance Directive Completion: A Randomized Controlled Study. J Prim Care Community Health. 2021 Jan-Dec;12:21501327211000221. doi: 10.1177/21501327211000221.

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Advance DirectivesLiving WillsInsemination, Artificial, Heterologous

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

JurisprudenceSocial Control, FormalHealth Care Economics and OrganizationsAdvance Care PlanningPatient Care PlanningComprehensive Health CarePatient Care ManagementHealth Services AdministrationInsemination, ArtificialReproductive Techniques, AssistedReproductive TechniquesTherapeuticsInvestigative TechniquesInseminationReproductionReproductive Physiological PhenomenaReproductive and Urinary Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

  • Melanie G Hagen, MD

    University of Florida

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Purpose
HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

February 29, 2016

First Posted

March 8, 2016

Study Start

June 5, 2017

Primary Completion

November 15, 2018

Study Completion

November 15, 2018

Last Updated

November 19, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-11

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations