Advance care planning with patients who have end-stage kidney disease
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Advance care planning with older patients who have end-stage kidney disease: Feasibility of a deferred entry randomised controlled trial incorporating a mixed methods process evaluation
IRAS ID
193402
Contact name
Peter D O'Halloran
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen's University Belfast
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Title: Is it feasible to conduct a randomised controlled trial to evaluate advance care planning (ACP) with older patients who have kidney failure?
Background: Chronic kidney disease and kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease - ESKD) become more common as people age. They increase the risks of other major illnesses and sudden death. However, many people with ESKD do not discuss their preferences for end-of-life care with their families or healthcare professionals. ACP can help patients think through their preferences for future care and discuss these with professionals. This may lead to care more in keeping with patients’ wishes and so reduce distress for patients and families. Consequently, ACP is recommended as good practice for people with ESKD. However, we still need to find out more about the impact of ACP on patients and families; and also about the best ways to put it into practice. This study is designed to test the research methods for a larger study that would answer those questions.
Aim: To determine the feasibility of conducting a deferred entry RCT, alongside a mixed methods study, to evaluate ACP with patients who have ESKD.
Objectives are to investigate the acceptability of the ACP intervention to patients, their carers and professionals; the costs and the best ways to deliver ACP; and to pilot all the methods and procedures that would be needed in a larger definitive study.Methods: Denying the opportunity for ACP would be unethical, so 40 patient/carer pairs receiving dialysis in two Health and Social Care Trusts in Northern Ireland will be randomised in a 12 week RCT to immediate or deferred entry groups to allow us to compare the groups, before the deferred entry group proceeds to ACP. We will also pilot methods assessing cost effectiveness, and use qualitative methods to identify key factors for successful use of ACP.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
16/NI/0043
Date of REC Opinion
15 Apr 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion