A Decision Aid on End-of-life Care for Patients With Advanced COPD and Their Family

February 12, 2026 updated by: Helen YL Chan, Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong

Effects of a Decision Support Intervention on End-of-life Care Planning in Patients With Advanced Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Their Family Members: A Mixed Method Approach

This study aims to support EOL decision-making in patients with advanced COPD and their family members. A parallel two-arm single-blinded randomised controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the effects of a specific decision support intervention. A total of 226 patients with advanced COPD and their designated family members will be recruited from hospital wards and outpatient clinics.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive life-limiting condition. However, patients with advanced COPD and their family members generally are unprepared for end-of-life (EOL) situations. The Ottawa Decision Support Framework model is adopted to address the patients' decisional needs for the difficult decisions in EOL care. The participants will be randomly allocated to either the intervention group to receive the decision support intervention or the control group to receive general health coaching. Outcomes will be measured at baseline and 1- and 6-month post-allocation. Subsequently, a descriptive qualitative study will be conducted with a subsample of 30 dyads to explore how the intervention influenced the study outcomes.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
226

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • China
      • Hong Kong, China
        • Prince of Wales Hospital
      • Hong Kong, China
        • Tai Po Hospital

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria of patients:

  • are aged 50 years or over
  • have been diagnosed with COPD
  • are cognitively sound (scored > 5 on the validated Abbreviated Mental Test (Hong Kong version) [AMT-HK])
  • meet at least two of the six specific clinical indicators related to advanced COPD in the Gold Standards Framework (GSF) Proactive Identification Guidance, 6th Edition
  • can nominate a family member who would take part in their healthcare decision- making.

Inclusion Criteria of patients' family members:

  • are aged 18 years or over,
  • can communicate in Cantonese,
  • have at least one personal contact per week with the patient in the past 6 months and
  • are willing to join the study. Family members will be excluded if they score < 6 on the AMT-HK or are expecting to leave Hong Kong within the next 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • non-communicable due to a severe hearing impairment, dysphasia or a language barrier;
  • are receiving palliative care services or
  • have already completed ACP or an advance directive.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Intervention Group
Decision Support Intervention
Behavioral: Decision Support Intervention
The participants will receive two 60-minute consultation sessions delivered by a trained nurse in four weeks at home. Participant's family members will be encouraged to attend the sessions. In the first session, the nurse will explore the participant's understanding of the current health condition, introduce the concept of advance care planning and discuss their decisional needs for end-of-life care decision-making. In the second session, the nurse will ask the participants to complete a value clarification exercise individually.
Active Comparator: Control Group
Health coaching
Behavioral: Health Coaching
The participants will receive two 60-minute health coaching sessions delivered by a trained nurse in four weeks at home. This intervention will focus on lifestyle modification and self-care management unrelated to the tested intervention content or outcomes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Decisional conflict at T0
Time Frame: Baseline
Decisional conflict regarding EOL care measured using The SURE test. It includes four items to be rated on a dichotomous format, with 0 (no) or 1 (yes). The total score ranged from 0 to 4, with a higher score means less decisional conflict.
Baseline
Decisional conflict at T1
Time Frame: 1-month post allocation
Decisional conflict regarding EOL care measured using The SURE test. It includes four items to be rated on a dichotomous format, with 0 (no) or 1 (yes). The total score ranged from 0 to 4, with a higher score means less decisional conflict.
1-month post allocation
Decisional conflict at T2
Time Frame: 6-month post allocation
Decisional conflict regarding EOL care measured using The SURE test. It includes four items to be rated on a dichotomous format, with 0 (no) or 1 (yes). The total score ranged from 0 to 4, with a higher score means less decisional conflict.
6-month post allocation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Self-efficacy for ACP at T0
Time Frame: Baseline
Self-efficacy for ACP measured using the 3-item Self-efficacy subscale of the ACP Engagement Survey. Participants will rate their level of self-efficacy regarding three ACP actions - namely, appointing a surrogate and discussing EOL care with a surrogate and with medical doctors - using a five-point Likert scale. A higher score indicates a higher level of self-efficacy.
Baseline
Self-efficacy for ACP at T1
Time Frame: 1-month post allocation
Self-efficacy for ACP measured using the 3-item Self-efficacy subscale of the ACP Engagement Survey. Participants will rate their level of self-efficacy regarding three ACP actions - namely, appointing a surrogate and discussing EOL care with a surrogate and with medical doctors - using a five-point Likert scale. A higher score indicates a higher level of self-efficacy.
1-month post allocation
Self-efficacy for ACP at T2
Time Frame: 6-month post allocation
Self-efficacy for ACP measured using the 3-item Self-efficacy subscale of the ACP Engagement Survey. Participants will rate their level of self-efficacy regarding three ACP actions - namely, appointing a surrogate and discussing EOL care with a surrogate and with medical doctors - using a five-point Likert scale. A higher score indicates a higher level of self-efficacy.
6-month post allocation
Readiness for ACP at T0
Time Frame: Baseline
Readiness for completing the aforementioned three ACP actions based on the ACP Engagement Survey. Participants will rate their readiness using a five-point scale, from 1 (never thought about it) to 5 (completed already). The total score ranged from 4 to 20. A higher score indicates a higher level of readiness.
Baseline
Readiness for ACP at T1
Time Frame: 1-month post allocation
Readiness for completing the aforementioned three ACP actions based on the ACP Engagement Survey. Participants will rate their readiness using a five-point scale, from 1 (never thought about it) to 5 (completed already). The total score ranged from 4 to 20. A higher score indicates a higher level of readiness.
1-month post allocation
Readiness for ACP at T2
Time Frame: 6-month post allocation
Readiness for completing the aforementioned three ACP actions based on the ACP Engagement Survey. Participants will rate their readiness using a five-point scale, from 1 (never thought about it) to 5 (completed already). The total score ranged from 4 to 20. A higher score indicates a higher level of readiness.
6-month post allocation
Family members' engagement in ACP at T0
Time Frame: Baseline
Family members' engagement in ACP will be measured by using the 17-item ACP Engagement Survey for Surrogate Decision Makers. Participants will rate their level of engagement using a five-point scale, from 1 (least) to 5 (highest). The total score ranged from 17 to 85. A higher score indicates a higher level of engagement.
Baseline
Family members' engagement in ACP at T1
Time Frame: 1-month post allocation
Family members' engagement in ACP will be measured by using the 17-item ACP Engagement Survey for Surrogate Decision Makers. Participants will rate their level of engagement using a five-point scale, from 1 (least) to 5 (highest). The total score ranged from 17 to 85. A higher score indicates a higher level of engagement.
1-month post allocation
Family members' engagement in ACP at T2
Time Frame: 6-month post allocation
Family members' engagement in ACP will be measured by using the 17-item ACP Engagement Survey for Surrogate Decision Makers. Participants will rate their level of engagement using a five-point scale, from 1 (least) to 5 (highest). The total score ranged from 17 to 85. A higher score indicates a higher level of engagement.
6-month post allocation
End-of-life care preferences at T1
Time Frame: 1-month post allocation
End-of-life care preferences will be determined using the adapted Life-Support Preferences Questionnaire. Participants will be asked to indicate whether they would accept cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilator and tube feeding if they become seriously ill and mentally incapacitated. There are three options: yes, no and uncertain. In addition, they will be asked to indicate their preferred goal of end-of-life care. The available options are maintain life at all costs, maintain comfort and uncertain. There is no scoring for the responses.
1-month post allocation
End-of-life care preferences at T2
Time Frame: 6-month post allocation
End-of-life care preferences will be determined using the adapted Life-Support Preferences Questionnaire. Participants will be asked to indicate whether they would accept cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilator and tube feeding if they become seriously ill and mentally incapacitated. There are three options: yes, no and uncertain. In addition, they will be asked to indicate their preferred goal of end-of-life care. The available options are maintain life at all costs, maintain comfort and uncertain. There is no scoring for the responses.
6-month post allocation
Advance directives at T2
Time Frame: 6-month post allocation
Participants will be asked if they have completed advance directives in the past six months.
6-month post allocation

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Hospital Authority, Hong Kong

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Helen Chan, Ph.D., Chinese University of Hong Kong

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 1, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
August 3, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 31, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 18, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 18, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 23, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
February 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
February 12, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 14118622

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Data will be shared upon request

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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