New communication tool aims to improve End-of-Life talks for injured seniors
NCT ID NCT03188055
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a tool called "Best Case/Worst Case" helps doctors have better conversations with severely injured older adults (age 50+) and their families about treatment options. Researchers compared communication quality before and after surgeons learned to use the tool. The goal was to improve understanding and decision-making, not to treat the injury itself.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
298 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jul 2017
- Finished
-
Mar 2020
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
50 years and older
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Patients Inclusion Criteria: * Traumatically injured patients 50 and older admitted to the ICU Exclusion Criteria: * Surgeons will have an opportunity to exclude a patient or family who, in the physician's judgment, would not be an appropriate participant * Patients with a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Medical Treatment (POLST) or Medical Orders for Life-Sustaining Medical Treatment (MOLST) form on file in their medical record that specifies that the patient or their decision maker wishes them to receive no intervention * Patients with an isolated head injury as defined by a Head Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score of 2 or less and an External AIS score of 1 or 0 and a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 15. This serves to exclude the mildly traumatically brain injured patients with minimal external injuries who require ICU-level monitoring for a short period of time only Family Members Inclusion Criteria: * N/A Exclusion Criteria: * We will exclude patients whose family members do not speak English * Under the age of 18 * Lack decision making capacity (DMC) * Have a severe hearing or vision impairment. Surgeons Inclusion Criteria: -N/A Exclusion Criteria: * Care providers who do not directly provide primary trauma care in the ICU * Residents who have not had at least 5 years of postgraduate training * Trauma consultants including for example, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, and otolaryngologists Nurses Inclusion Criteria: * The nurse responsible for care of the enrolled patient at 3 days post-admission will be invited to complete a Quality of Communication (QOC) survey assessment Exclusion Criteria: * N/A
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Communication are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Oregon Health Sciences University
Portland, Oregon, 97239-3098, United States
-
University of Texas Southwestern
Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Do ICU family meetings for the very old vary across europe?
- The order of a text message may decide whether someone gets a COVID test
- Parents' voices could reshape how doctors explain newborn treatments
- Can a picture tool help kids with cancer say how they feel?
- Could a social media post curb drinking and cut breast cancer risk?
- Can exposing food marketing tricks on instagram make young adults eat healthier?