Project Talk Trial: Engaging Underserved Communities in End-of-life Conversations
1 other identifier
interventional
1,500
1 country
81
Brief Summary
Compared to the general population, individuals from underserved communities are more likely to receive low quality end-of-life care and unwanted, costly and burdensome treatments due in part to a lack of advance care planning (ACP; the process of discussing wishes for end-of-life care with loved ones/clinicians and documenting them in advance directives). This study will use existing, trusted, and respected social networks to evaluate two conversation-based tools intended to engage underserved individuals in discussions about end-of-life issue and motivate them to carry out ACP behaviors. Through this study, investigators will learn how best to engage underserved populations in ACP so as to: 1) increase the likelihood that patients from underserved communities will receive high-quality end-of-life care; 2) address health disparities related to end-of-life treatments; and 3) reduce unnecessary suffering for patients and their families.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P75+ for not_applicable
Started Mar 2022
Longer than P75 for not_applicable
81 active sites
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
October 12, 2020
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
November 3, 2020
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
March 19, 2022
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
January 31, 2026
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
January 31, 2026
CompletedNovember 14, 2025
May 1, 2025
3.9 years
October 12, 2020
November 12, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Rates of Completion of a Visually Verified Advance Directive
Study team confirms completion of a signed advance directive
6 months post-intervention
Secondary Outcomes (2)
Rates of Other Advance Care Planning (ACP) behaviors
6 months post-intervention
Advance Care Planning Engagement Survey
Baseline (Day 0); 6 months post-intervention
Other Outcomes (9)
Previous Exposure to ACP Interventions and Advance Directives
Baseline (Day 0)
Healthcare System Distrust Scale
Baseline (Day 0)
Experience and Comfort with Games Questionnaire
Baseline (Day 0 )
- +6 more other outcomes
Study Arms (3)
Group 1:Advance care planning conversation game, 'Hello'
ACTIVE COMPARATORThe 'Hello' game is a commercially available serious game that consists of 32 questions prompting players to share their values, goals, and beliefs about end-of-life issues. The game is played with 4 - 5 players, with each receiving a game booklet and chips. A play reads the first question in the book. Then each player writes down their answers individually and takes turns sharing their answers with the group. Players control what they share, how long they share and when to move to the next questions. During the conversation, plays can acknowledge others for a thoughtful, poignant or even funny comments by giving them a chip. A pre-game coin flip determines whether the player with the most chips wins the game (heads) or player with the least chips win (tails) the game. Other names; previously name "My Gift of Grace"
Group 2: The Conversation Project (CP) Starter Kit
ACTIVE COMPARATORThe 'CP Starter Kit' (available for free online) is an 11-page workbook with open- ended prompts to consider one's values and preferences for end-of-life care, who to talk with about one's wishes, and suggestions on how to do so.
Group 3: Control Arm (Placebo control game, 'Table Topics')
PLACEBO COMPARATORA placebo/attention control l conversation game called 'Table Topics' will be used. Table Topics is a general conversation starter game that is unrelated to advance care planning. It involves answering open-ended questions in a group setting about a variety of topics.
Interventions
Commercially available, 'Hello' 32 is a serious game that consists of 32 questions prompting players to share their values, goals, and beliefs about end-of-life issues. The creators developed the questions following interviews with palliative care clinicians, hospice nurses, and funeral directors, and then revised them through a series focus groups with \>100 patients/caregivers from diverse backgrounds.
The CP Starter Kit is one of the most widely promoted and disseminated ACP tools nationwide, is available for free online, and does not require a healthcare professional for use. Like 'Hello', it is intended to help individuals have end-of-life conversations with loved ones. The 11-page workbook has open- ended prompts to consider one's values and preferences for end-of-life care, who to talk with about one's wishes, and suggestions on how to do so. It also prompts participants to rank priorities on a 5-point scale (e.g., What are your concerns about treatment? 1= I'm worried I won't get enough care, 5= I'm worried I'll get overly aggressive care). The CP website provides resources for running a community event using the 'CP Starter Kit', including a 23-page manual, "Coaching the Conversation- A Guide to Facilitating Conversation Groups," with details on hosting a community-based program.
Table topics is a popular, commercially available conversation starter game that consists of question cards to prompt conversations (e.g., 'What do you love about your hometown?').
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Ability to recruit 20 individuals from underserved populations to attend a community event
- Experience hosting a community event
- Experience working with underserved populations
- Participation in a series of mandatory live study-related web-based trainings
- Completes a research site agreement
- Research Participants
- Adults over the age of 18 years old in underserved populations
- Able to speak and read English and/or Spanish
- Have not completed an AD within the previous 5 years
- All participants regardless of health status
- Individuals from the same household can enroll
You may not qualify if:
- Inability to recruit 20 individuals from underserved populations
- Inexperience for hosting a community event
- Inexperience working with underserved populations
- Unable to attend a series of mandatory live study-related web-based trainings
- Do not provide informed consent
- Do not complete a research site agreement
- Previously hosted a Hello project event
- Research Participants
- Anyone \<18 years of age
- Anyone not able to speak and read English and/or Spanish
- Have significant difficulties with hearing or speaking difficulties by self-report
- Completed an AD in the past 5 years
- Do not provide informed consent
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- Milton S. Hershey Medical Centerlead
- Hospice Foundation of Americacollaborator
- University of Kentuckycollaborator
Study Sites (81)
Pincham-Lincoln Community Center
Athens, Alabama, 35611, United States
Kingman Regional Medical Center
Kingman, Arizona, 86409, United States
Accord Health Group
Show Low, Arizona, 85901, United States
El Rio Neighborhood Center
Tucson, Arizona, 85745, United States
Promotores y Promotoras
Santa Paula, California, 93060, United States
Our Lady of Solitude
Soledad, California, 93960, United States
Vitas
Walnut Creek, California, 94590, United States
University of Colorado Hospital
Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
HopeWest Montrose
Montrose, Colorado, 81401, United States
Stamford Senior Center
Stamford, Connecticut, 06901, United States
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20020, United States
DeSoto Memorial Hospital
Arcadia, Florida, 34266, United States
High Point Neighborhood Family Center
Clearwater, Florida, 33760, United States
St. Phillip AME Church
Tallahassee, Florida, 32308, United States
City of Temple Terrace, Omar K. Lightfoot Center
Temple Terrace, Florida, 33617, United States
47Million Reasons Healthcare Movement
West Palm Beach, Florida, 33406, United States
Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
Albany, Georgia, 61763, United States
Helene S. Mills
Atlanta, Georgia, 30328, United States
Seniors First of GA
Atlanta, Georgia, 30345, United States
Gilmer County Senior Center
Ellijay, Georgia, 30540, United States
Colquitt Regional Medical Center
Moultrie, Georgia, 31768, United States
University of Chicago Medical Ctr
Chicago, Illinois, 60616, United States
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church
Crystal Lake, Illinois, 60014, United States
Lightways Hospice & Serious Illness Care
Joilet, Illinois, 60435, United States
First Baptist Church
Quincy, Illinois, 62301, United States
Trinity Lutheran Church
Cherokee, Iowa, 51012, United States
Hospice & Home Care of Reno
Hutchinson, Kansas, 67501, United States
Center for Practical Bioethics
Lawrence, Kansas, 66101, United States
Ohio County Senior Centers
Hartford, Kentucky, 42347, United States
Bluegrass Care Navigators
Lexington, Kentucky, 40504, United States
United Crescent Hill Ministries
Louisville, Kentucky, 40206, United States
Union County Senior Services
Morganfield, Kentucky, 42437, United States
Hospice of Lake Cumberland
Somerset, Kentucky, 42503, United States
Acadian Advocacy Network
Lafayette, Louisiana, 70506, United States
St. Mary's Health System
Lewiston, Maine, 04240, United States
East End Community Center
Portland, Maine, 04101, United States
Good Hope Union UMC
Silver Spring, Maryland, 20905, United States
Holy Cross Health
Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910, United States
Grove Hall Senior Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02121, United States
Community Economic Development Center
New Bedford, Massachusetts, 02746, United States
Christ Temple Church
Muskegon Heights, Michigan, 49444, United States
Northeast Mississippi Coalition Against COVID-19
Belden, Mississippi, 38868, United States
Elder Law Project of North Mississippi Rural Legal Services
Oxford, Mississippi, 38655, United States
Columbia Senior Activity Center
Columbia, Missouri, 65201, United States
Patch Center
St Louis, Missouri, 63111, United States
Washoe Tribe Health Center
Gardnerville, Nevada, 89410, United States
Reformed Church of Freehold
Freehold, New Jersey, 07728, United States
Booker T. Washington CES
Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88001, United States
Corsi Senior Center
New York, New York, 10029, United States
Hospice of St. Lawrence Valley
Potsdam, New York, 13676, United States
University of Rochester Medical Center
Rochester, New York, 14622, United States
Greater Vision United Methodist Church
Huntersville, North Carolina, 28078, United States
Plaza on Princess
Wilmington, North Carolina, 28401, United States
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27045, United States
Cleveland Clinic
Akron, Ohio, 44307, United States
Hospice of the Western Reserve
Cleveland, Ohio, 44110, United States
McGregor Gardens
Cleveland, Ohio, 44112, United States
Hope Behavioral Health
Cleveland, Ohio, 44120, United States
Eastside Fellowship Ministries
Columbus, Ohio, 43203, United States
Hospice Care of Middletown
Middletown, Ohio, 45044, United States
Hospital Council of Northwest Ohio
Toledo, Ohio, 43607, United States
Harney County Home Health & Hospice
Burns, Oregon, 97720, United States
Stuart Community Center
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 17013, United States
Villa Schiano
Elizabethville, Pennsylvania, 17023, United States
Latino Hispanic American Community Center
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17104, United States
People's Community Baptist Church
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17104, United States
Hospice and Community Care
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17602, United States
Hospice and Community Care
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 17603, United States
St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church
Bennettsville, South Carolina, 29512, United States
Welcome Home of Chattanooga
Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37406, United States
All Saints Episcopal Church
Cameron, Texas, 76520, United States
Turner Alumni Association
Carthage, Texas, 75633, United States
Dorothea Street Community Center
Crane, Texas, 79731, United States
Como Community Center
Fort Worth, Texas, 76107, United States
Georgetown Public Library
Georgetown, Texas, 78626, United States
Choice Hospice
Sulphur Springs, Texas, 75482, United States
Sunshine Terrace Foundation
Logan, Utah, 84321, United States
Luray Fire Department
Luray, Virginia, 22835, United States
Carmel Baptist Church
Winchester, Virginia, 22601, United States
Grayland Hall
Grayland, Washington, 98547, United States
Ocean Beach Hospital
Ilwaco, Washington, 98640, United States
Related Publications (2)
Costigan HJ, VanDyke E, Calo WA, Tucci A, Van Scoy LJ; Project Talk Trial Collaborative Working Group Members. Adapting Advance Care Planning Interventions for Hispanic Communities Across the U.S. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2025 Dec;42(12):1290-1297. doi: 10.1177/10499091241306427. Epub 2024 Dec 19.
PMID: 39700514DERIVEDVan 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 Sep 30;23(1):829. doi: 10.1186/s13063-022-06746-3.
PMID: 36180899DERIVED
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Lauren J. Van Scoy, MD
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Penn State University College of Medicine
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- SINGLE
- Who Masked
- INVESTIGATOR
- Masking Details
- The principal investigator and statistical teams will be blinded to the allocation of study participants to the study arms.
- Purpose
- OTHER
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Humanities, and Public Health Sciences; Co-director of Penn State Mixed Methods Core
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
October 12, 2020
First Posted
November 3, 2020
Study Start
March 19, 2022
Primary Completion
January 31, 2026
Study Completion
January 31, 2026
Last Updated
November 14, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-05
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share
Our study team is highly motivated to share data with outside investigators as a means to ensure reproducibility of findings, further the scientific inquiry, and to avoid unintentional duplication of research. However, only de-identified data would be shared from this database under the auspices of the PI, and only after securing a Data Transfer Agreement. Whether the individual participant data or aggregated data will be determined based on each individual request.