Enhanced Advance Care Planning and Life Review Longitudinal Intervention (EARLI): Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Cross-over Trial of Life Story Work and Facilitated Advance Care Planning Among Older Australian Adults in Community Settings

65 Pages Posted: 6 Aug 2024

See all articles by Ava Karusoo-Musumeci

Ava Karusoo-Musumeci

Neuroscience Research Australia

Ling Yeoh

Neuroscience Research Australia

Rebecca Walton

Brightwater Group

Tiet-Hanh Dao-Tran

University of Queensland

Elizabeth Halcomb

University of Wollongong

Kirsten A. Auret

The University of Western Australia

Josephine M. Clayton

The University of Sydney

Susan Kurrle

The University of Sydney

Elissa Campbell

The University of Western Australia

Michelle Hilgeman

University of Alabama

Ron Sinclair

University of Adelaide

Anne Meller

Prince of Wales Hospital

Simon Towler

The University of Western Australia - Fiona Stanley Hospital

Tracy Comans

University of Queensland - Centre for Health Services Research

Craig Sinclair

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Psychology

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: June 21, 2024

Abstract

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is potentially helpful for older adults, however, the rate of uptake in community aged care settings is low. Previous pilot studies suggest that holistic, person-centered ACP approaches may be effective for older adults who experience functional impairment but do not necessarily have life-limiting conditions with clear prognoses. This paper describes the protocol of a randomised trial to test the effectiveness of combined life story work and facilitated ACP in promoting ACP engagement among older adults receiving community aged care services.

Methods: The Enhanced Advance care planning and life Review Longitudinal Intervention (EARLI) trial is an open-label, cross-over, cluster randomized controlled trial with 12 participating aged care organizations in New South Wales and Western Australia. Participants are aged 65 years or older, receiving home care services and capable of providing informed consent at initial recruitment. . Recruitment occurs across a two-year period, with study sites randomized to receive the four-session intervention in the first or second year (or a single session ‘active control’ condition). Primary outcomes are participant-reported ACP engagement and ACP documentation in the aged care client record 12 weeks post-recruitment. Secondary outcomes include measures of decisional conflict, anxiety and depression, meaning-based coping and relationship quality. Analysis will take an intention-to-treat approach.

Conclusion: This trial tests a novel method of reaching older adults using a holistic, person-centred approach to promoting ACP engagement. Enhancing ACP engagement may reduce decisional conflict, minimise hospital admissions and improve outcomes for people and their families.

ANZCTR Trial Registration ID: ACTRN12622001399785

Keywords: advance care planning, life story work, older adults, chronic disease, home care

Suggested Citation

Karusoo-Musumeci, Ava and Yeoh, Ling and Walton, Rebecca and Dao-Tran, Tiet-Hanh and Halcomb, Elizabeth and Auret, Kirsten A. and Clayton, Josephine M. and Kurrle, Susan and Campbell, Elissa and Hilgeman, Michelle and Sinclair, Ron and Meller, Anne and Towler, Simon and Comans, Tracy and Sinclair, Craig, Enhanced Advance Care Planning and Life Review Longitudinal Intervention (EARLI): Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Controlled Cross-over Trial of Life Story Work and Facilitated Advance Care Planning Among Older Australian Adults in Community Settings (June 21, 2024). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4911516

Ava Karusoo-Musumeci

Neuroscience Research Australia ( email )

Australia

Ling Yeoh

Neuroscience Research Australia ( email )

Rebecca Walton

Brightwater Group ( email )

Tiet-Hanh Dao-Tran

University of Queensland ( email )

Elizabeth Halcomb

University of Wollongong ( email )

Kirsten A. Auret

The University of Western Australia ( email )

Josephine M. Clayton

The University of Sydney ( email )

Susan Kurrle

The University of Sydney ( email )

Elissa Campbell

The University of Western Australia ( email )

Michelle Hilgeman

University of Alabama ( email )

Ron Sinclair

University of Adelaide ( email )

No 233 North Terrace, School of Commerce
Adelaide, 5005
Australia

Anne Meller

Prince of Wales Hospital ( email )

Simon Towler

The University of Western Australia - Fiona Stanley Hospital ( email )

Australia

Tracy Comans

University of Queensland - Centre for Health Services Research ( email )

Craig Sinclair (Contact Author)

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Psychology ( email )

Sydney
Australia

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
36
Abstract Views
166
PlumX Metrics