End-of-Life Conversation Tools for Advance Care Planning
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial explores ways to help people from underserved communities discuss and plan for end-of-life care. It tests two conversation tools: a game called "Hello," which encourages sharing personal values and beliefs, and the "Conversation Project Starter Kit," a workbook guiding discussions about end-of-life wishes. The goal is to improve the quality of care these communities receive and reduce unnecessary suffering. Suitable candidates for this trial are adults from underserved communities who haven't completed an advance directive (a document outlining end-of-life wishes) in the last five years and can speak and read English or Spanish. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to meaningful improvements in end-of-life care for underserved communities.
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on conversations about end-of-life care rather than medical treatments.
What prior data suggests that these conversation tools are safe for advance care planning?
Research has shown that both the Hello game and The Conversation Project Starter Kit are safe and easy-to-use tools for discussing end-of-life preferences. The Hello game, a conversation game, helps people talk about what matters most to them. It has been used in community settings and is considered friendly and easy to participate in, with no negative effects reported in various studies.
The Conversation Project Starter Kit, an 11-page workbook, encourages discussions about end-of-life care. It is widely available and helps many express their care wishes. Like the Hello game, it is a conversation tool with no reported safety issues.
Both tools are designed to facilitate meaningful discussions without any known risks. Participants can comfortably use these resources to explore and document their end-of-life care preferences.12345Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about these tools for end-of-life conversations because they offer new ways to approach advance care planning. The "Hello" game uses an interactive and social format that encourages players to discuss their values and beliefs in a group setting, making these tough conversations more engaging and less intimidating. The Conversation Project (CP) Starter Kit provides a structured yet flexible workbook to reflect on personal preferences and facilitate discussions with loved ones. Both tools aim to make planning for end-of-life care more accessible and personalized, potentially leading to better alignment between a person's wishes and the care they receive.
What evidence suggests that these conversation tools are effective for advance care planning?
In this trial, participants will use various tools to facilitate end-of-life care conversations. Research has shown that the "Hello" game, used by participants in one arm of this trial, can help people discuss end-of-life care. Studies have found it effective in encouraging players to discuss and document their wishes for end-of-life care, particularly in resource-limited communities. Another group in this trial will use the Conversation Project (CP) Starter Kit, which has been shown to help people share their preferences for end-of-life care. Evidence from advance care planning activities suggests that using the CP Starter Kit helps people communicate their wishes, increasing the likelihood that these wishes will be honored. Both tools aim to improve the quality of end-of-life care by encouraging important conversations.12345
Who Is on the Research Team?
Lauren J. Van Scoy, MD
Principal Investigator
Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Penn State University College of Medicine
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adults over 18 from underserved communities who can speak and read English or Spanish. They should not have completed an advance directive in the past 5 years. Community hosts must be able to gather 20 individuals, have experience with events and working with these populations, plus complete mandatory training.Inclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Intervention
Participants engage in advance care planning interventions using either the 'Hello' game, 'CP Starter Kit', or 'Table Topics' as a control.
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for completion of advance directives and other ACP behaviors.
Qualitative Follow-up
Qualitative interviews to explore experiences and perceptions of the intervention.
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Hello (serious game)
- Table Topics (general conversation game)
- The Conversation Project (CP) Starter Kit
Trial Overview
The study tests two tools: 'Hello', a serious game, and The Conversation Project Starter Kit against a general conversation game to engage people in end-of-life discussions and motivate them to plan their care preferences ahead of time.
How Is the Trial Designed?
3
Treatment groups
Active Control
Placebo Group
The '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"
The '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.
A 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.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Lead Sponsor
Hospice Foundation of America
Collaborator
University of Kentucky
Collaborator
Published Research Related to This Trial
Citations
"Hello" Project
A 16-month research grant project on the importance of talking about end-of-life wishes and documenting those wishes using the conversation game, Hello.
Community Game Day: Using an End-of-Life Conversation ...
This convergent, mixed-methods study assessed whether an end-of-life conversation card game is an acceptable and effective means for performing ACP for ...
End-of-Life Conversation Game, Advance Care Planning ...
The end-of-life conversation game may be a useful tool for engaging underserved African American communities in advance care planning.
Association of Participation in an End-of-Life Conversation ...
The end-of-life conversation game may be a useful tool for engaging underserved African American communities in advance care planning.
Hello Game (Home Edition) - Common Practice
Hello is a conversation game. It's the easy, non-threatening way to start a conversation with your family and friends about what matters most to you.
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