Web-Based Advance Care Planning for Patients With Advanced Cancer

July 14, 2026 updated by: Hai-Jou Shih, Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH)

A Web-Based Advance Care Planning Intervention to Reduce Preferences for Aggressive Life-Sustaining Treatments in Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine whether a web-based advance care planning (ACP) intervention can reduce preferences for aggressive life-sustaining treatments among patients with advanced cancer.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Does a web-based ACP intervention reduce preferences for aggressive life-sustaining treatments among patients with advanced cancer?
  • Does a web-based ACP intervention support informed medical decision-making regarding future care?

Researchers will compare a web-based ACP intervention plus a Patient Right to Autonomy Act leaflet with a Patient Right to Autonomy Act leaflet alone to determine whether the web-based ACP intervention is more effective in reducing preferences for aggressive life-sustaining treatments.

Participants will:

  • Be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group
  • Receive either a web-based ACP educational program plus a Patient Right to Autonomy Act leaflet, or a Patient Right to Autonomy Act leaflet alone
  • Complete questionnaires at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and one week after the intervention

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Advance care planning (ACP) is a process that enables individuals to understand and communicate their values, goals, and preferences regarding future medical care. ACP is particularly important for patients with advanced cancer, who may face complex decisions regarding life-sustaining treatments and end-of-life care. However, ACP participation remains limited, and innovative approaches are needed to improve patient engagement.

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a web-based ACP intervention in reducing preferences for aggressive life-sustaining treatments among patients with advanced cancer. The intervention was developed to provide accessible ACP education and information regarding the Patient Right to Autonomy Act in Taiwan.

A single-blind randomized controlled trial design was used. A total of 110 patients with stage III or IV cancer were recruited and randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n = 55) or a control group (n = 55). Participants in the intervention group received a web-based ACP educational program in addition to a Patient Right to Autonomy Act leaflet, whereas participants in the control group received the leaflet alone.

Outcome assessments were conducted at baseline (T1), immediately after the intervention (T2), and one week after the intervention (T3). The primary objective was to determine whether the web-based ACP intervention reduced preferences for aggressive life-sustaining treatments. The study also examined factors associated with treatment preferences and medical decision-making.

The findings of this study may contribute to the development of accessible ACP interventions and support informed decision-making among patients with advanced cancer.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

110

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Taiwan
    • Taipei City
      • Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan
        • Tri-Service General 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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed with advanced cancer (stage III or IV)
  • Aged 18 years or older
  • Able to communicate fluently in Mandarin Chinese or Taiwanese
  • Able and willing to provide informed consent
  • No cognitive impairment
  • Have access to Internet-connected electronic devices at home
  • Have not previously received advance care planning (ACP) consultation
  • Have not completed an advance directive (AD)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • No access to Internet-connected electronic devices at home
  • Unable to operate Internet-based electronic devices
  • Previous participation in ACP consultation or completion of an AD
  • Cognitive impairment
  • Severe physical or psychological symptoms that would interfere with participation in the study
  • Concurrent participation in another intervention study
  • Refusal to participate

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
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Web-Based ACP Intervention Group
Participants received a web-based advance care planning (ACP) educational program in addition to a Patient Right to Autonomy Act leaflet.
Behavioral: Web-Based Advance Care Planning Program
A web-based educational program designed to improve advance care planning knowledge, promote informed decision-making, and facilitate discussions regarding future medical care among patients with advanced cancer.
Other: Patient Right to Autonomy Act Leaflet
An educational leaflet providing information about the Patient Right to Autonomy Act and advance care planning.
Other: Control Group
Participants received a Patient Right to Autonomy Act leaflet only.
Other: Patient Right to Autonomy Act Leaflet
An educational leaflet providing information about the Patient Right to Autonomy Act and advance care planning.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Preference for Aggressive Life-Sustaining Treatments
Time Frame: Baseline and 1 Week After Intervention
Preferences for aggressive life-sustaining treatments were assessed using the Life-Sustaining Treatment Preference Questionnaire. Higher scores indicate stronger preferences for aggressive life-sustaining treatments. Changes from baseline were compared between the intervention and control groups.
Baseline and 1 Week After Intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH)

Investigators

  • Study Director: Hsueh-Hsing Pan, PhD, National Defense Medical University
  • Principal Investigator: Yu-Shiue Lin, National Defense Medical University

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)

October 16, 2023

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 22, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

January 22, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 14, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 14, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • TSGHIRB No. A202305148
  • TSGH_E_113274 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Tri-Service General Hospital)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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.

Clinical Trials on Advanced Cancer

Clinical Trials on Web-Based Advance Care Planning Program

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Dominican Republic

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
Subscribe