Goals of Care Conversations Training for Seriously Ill Patients
(LSTDI Trial)
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
The long term goal is to improve quality of care in Veterans with serious illnesses by aligning medical care with Veterans' goals and values. The objective of this study is to use a sequentially randomized trial to determine what implementation strategies are effective to increase early, outpatient goals of care conversations. The study will use interviews with and surveys of medical providers, patients, and caregivers, along with medical record data. This work is significant because it tests ways Veterans can express their goals and preferences for life sustaining treatments and have them honored.
Who Is on the Research Team?
David Bekelman, MD MPH
Principal Investigator
Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, CO
Anne M Walling, MD PhD
Principal Investigator
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for Veterans with serious illnesses like cancer, heart failure, lung diseases, kidney or liver failure, and dementia. They must be enrolled in VHA healthcare at one of the study sites and have a high risk of hospitalization or death within a year. Clinicians eligible are those who need to improve their skills in discussing care goals with patients.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Stage 1
Implementation of low intensity clinician and patient strategies to improve documentation of goals of care conversations
Stage 2
Implementation of high intensity clinician and patient strategies for non-responders to further improve documentation of goals of care conversations
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for the effectiveness of the implementation strategies on goals of care conversations
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Clinician Implementation Strategy Stage 1
- Clinician Implementation Strategy Stage 2
- High patient engagement
- Low patient engagement
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
VA Office of Research and Development
Lead Sponsor