Trial results for a pilot study investigating improved communication about serious illness, including Heart Failure, were posted on 2025-08-22. The study found that a 'Jumpstart Intervention' led to documentation of goals of care for 16 participants, compared to 6 in the usual care group, with a statistically significant p-value of 0.036.
Background
Patients living with serious illnesses such as heart failure, chronic lung disease, and various cancers often face complex medical decisions. Effective communication about their preferences, values, and goals for care is critical to ensure that medical treatment aligns with their wishes. However, initiating and documenting these 'goals-of-care' discussions can be challenging in clinical settings. Tools that facilitate clear, patient-centered communication are essential to improve the quality of care and support patient autonomy during serious illness.
Trial design
This completed pilot study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 150 participants. The study investigated the impact of a one-page 'Jumpstart Form' on goals-of-care discussions in the hospital setting. The conditions studied included Malignant Neoplasm, Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell, Lung Disease Chronic, Congestive Heart Failure, and Liver Failures, Chronic. The intervention involved providing clinicians, patients, or their surrogates with the 'Jumpstart Form,' which contained patient-specific information about communication preferences and care goals, along with tips for improving communication. The primary focus of the study was the documentation of goals of care, comparing the 'Jumpstart Intervention' group to a 'Usual Care' group.
Key results
The trial reported key measurements related to the documentation of goals of care:
- In the Jumpstart Intervention group, 16 participants had documentation of goals of care.
- In the Usual Care group, 6 participants had documentation of goals of care.
A statistical analysis using the Fisher Exact method yielded a p-value of 0.036, indicating a statistically significant difference between the two groups.
What this means
The results suggest that the 'Jumpstart Form' is an effective tool for increasing the documentation of goals-of-care discussions for patients with serious illnesses. This improvement in documentation could lead to more patient-centered care, ensuring that treatment plans better reflect individual preferences and values. For clinicians, this intervention offers a practical approach to facilitate these crucial conversations, potentially enhancing communication efficiency and patient satisfaction in the context of serious illness care.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT03746392, titled "Project to Improve Communication About Serious Illness - Pilot Study", were posted on 2025-08-22 on clinicaltrials.gov.