18 and older, any sex, with Congestive Heart Failure or Metastatic Cancer. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.
Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov
Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.
Change in Advance Care Planning (ACP) Engagement With Clinicians at One MonthPrimary· Change from baseline ACP engagement at one month
ACP engagement is a one-item question from the validated ACP engagement survey that measures participants' self-reported readiness to discuss their values and preferences with their doctors. The instrument is a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "I have never thought about it (1)" to "I have already done it (5)." A higher score indicates a better outcome.
Sudore RL, Heyland DK, Barnes DE, Howard M, Fassbender K, Robinson CA, Boscardin J, You JJ. Measuring Advance Care Planning: Optimizing the Advance Care Planning Engagement Survey. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2017 Apr;53(4):669-681.e8. doi: 10.101
Baseline
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
2.84
± 1.29
Control Arm
2.87
± 1.40
1-Month
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
3.37
± 1.07
Control Arm
3.32
± 1.28
Feeling Heard and Understood SurveySecondary· Surveys were done at baseline and once at 1, 3, or 6 months. If participants reported discussing end-of-life wishes with their doctor during a follow-up, the survey was given then or at 6 months, whichever came first. Follow-up results were summed.
A validated instrument for seriously ill patients to report how well they feel heard and understood about their wishes for end-of-life care. This instrument is a 5-point Likert scale: "not at all (1)," "slightly (2)," "moderately (3)," "quite a bit (4)," and "completely (5)." A higher score indicates a better outcome.
Gramling R, Stanek S, Ladwig S, Gajary-Coots E, Cimino J, Anderson W, Norton SA; AAHPM Research Committee Writing Group, Aslakson RA, Ast K, Elk R, Garner KK, Gramling R, Grudzen C, Kamal AH, Lamba S, LeBlanc TW, Rhodes RL, Roeland E, Schulman-Green D, Unroe KT. Feeling Heard an
Baseline
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
7
Control Arm
6
Intervention Arm
4
Control Arm
6
Intervention Arm
12
Control Arm
12
Intervention Arm
17
Control Arm
15
Follow-up
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
5
Control Arm
4
Intervention Arm
1
Control Arm
3
Intervention Arm
9
Control Arm
7
Intervention Arm
19
Control Arm
11
Quality of Communication SurveySecondary· Baseline & 1, 3, or 6 months (same as Outcome 2). Additionally, the baseline questionnaire was asked with respect to the study clinician, whereas the follow-up was asked with respect to the primary doctor. Thus, only the follow-up value is reported.
A validated instrument to measure the quality of communication about end-of-life care. This instrument is a 10-point Likert scale ranging from "the very worse I could imagine (0)" to "the very best I could imagine (10)". A higher score indicates a better outcome.
Engelberg RA, Downey L, Curtis JR. Psychometric characteristics of a quality of communication questionnaire assessing communication about end-of-life care. J Palliat Med. 2006 Oct;9(5):1086-98.
How good is doctor at talking about your FEELINGS concerning the possibility you might get sicker?
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
8.80
± 1.81
Control Arm
8.53
± 1.80
How good is doctor at talking about the DETAILS concerning the possibility you might get sicker?
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
8.65
± 1.54
Control Arm
8.61
± 1.87
How good is your doctor at talking to you about HOW LONG you might have to live?
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
8.03
± 2.11
Control Arm
8.07
± 2.48
How good is your doctor at talking with you about WHAT DYING MIGHT BE LIKE?
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
6.69
± 3.07
Control Arm
7.75
± 3.11
How good is doctor at involving you in DECISIONS ABOUT TREATMENTS you want if you get too sick?
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
9.08
± 1.62
Control Arm
9.19
± 1.41
How good is your doctor at asking about the things in life that are IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
8.52
± 1.73
Control Arm
7.79
± 2.63
How good is your doctor at asking about your SPIRITUAL OR RELIGIOUS beliefs?
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
8.67
± 2.29
Control Arm
7.40
± 2.97
Healthcare UtilizationSecondary· At 6 and 12 months before and 1, 6, 12 months after enrollment
Electronic medical records will be reviewed to find the number of urgent care visits, ED visits, hospitalizations, hospice visits, and outpatient visits.
Urgent Care Visits 6 Months Prior
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
0
0 – 3
Control Arm
0
0 – 3
Urgent Care Visits 12 Months Prior
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
0
0 – 4
Control Arm
0
0 – 4
ED Visits 6 Months Prior
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
2
1 – 7
Control Arm
2
1 – 7
ED Visits 12 Months Prior
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
2.5
1 – 10
Control Arm
2
1 – 9
Hospitalizations 6 Months Prior
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
1
0 – 5
Control Arm
1
0 – 5
Hospitalizations 12 Months Prior
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
2
0 – 11
Control Arm
2
0 – 11
ED Visits 1 Month After
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
0
0 – 3
Control Arm
0
0 – 3
ED Visits 6 Months After
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
0
0 – 7
Control Arm
0
0 – 7
MortalitySecondary· At 1, 3, and 6 months
The electronic medical records will be reviewed to find the patients' vital status.
1-Month
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
1
Control Arm
1
6-Month
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
4
Control Arm
4
Qualitative Benefits and Obstacles of Advance Care Planning (ACP) Conversations After ED GOALSecondary· At 1, 3, and/or 6 months
Semi-structured interviews to assess the benefits of ED GOAL and obstacles participants faced in completing more ACP conversations with their outpatient clinicians and loved ones after ED GOAL.
Raised awareness/clarity about wishes
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
16
Learned about ACP
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
7
Encouraged to take action
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
17
Making wishes known
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
3
No effect on attitudes toward ACP
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
15
Spoke with clinician
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
17
Spoke with family/loved ones
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
21
No action taken towards ACP
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
16
Electronic Medical Record Documentation of Advance Care Planning (ACP) ConversationsSecondary· At 1, 3, and 6 months
The electronic medical record will be reviewed to find clinician documentation of ACP conversations.
Baseline
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
0
Control Arm
0
1-Month
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
10
Control Arm
5
3-Month
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
17
Control Arm
7
6-Month
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
22
Control Arm
9
Change in Advance Care Planning (ACP) Engagement With Clinicians at Three MonthsSecondary· Change from baseline ACP engagement at three months
ACP engagement is a one-item question from the validated ACP engagement survey that measures participants' self-reported readiness to discuss their values and preferences with their doctors. The instrument is a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "I have never thought about it (1)" to "I have already done it (5)." A higher score indicates a better outcome.
Sudore RL, Heyland DK, Barnes DE, Howard M, Fassbender K, Robinson CA, Boscardin J, You JJ. Measuring Advance Care Planning: Optimizing the Advance Care Planning Engagement Survey. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2017 Apr;53(4):669-681.e8. doi: 10.101
Baseline
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
2.84
± 1.29
Control Arm
2.87
± 1.40
3-Month
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
3.56
± 1.11
Control Arm
3.55
± 1.25
Change in Advance Care Planning (ACP) Engagement With Clinicians at Six MonthsSecondary· Change from baseline ACP engagement at six months
ACP engagement is a one-item question from the validated ACP engagement survey that measures participants' self-reported readiness to discuss their values and preferences with their doctors. The instrument is a 5-point Likert scale ranging from "I have never thought about it (1)" to "I have already done it (5)." A higher score indicates a better outcome.
Sudore RL, Heyland DK, Barnes DE, Howard M, Fassbender K, Robinson CA, Boscardin J, You JJ. Measuring Advance Care Planning: Optimizing the Advance Care Planning Engagement Survey. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2017 Apr;53(4):669-681.e8. doi: 10.101
Baseline
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
2.84
± 1.29
Control Arm
2.87
± 1.40
6-Month
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
3.73
± 1.13
Control Arm
3.70
± 1.23
Participant-reported Completion of Advance Care Planning (ACP) ConversationsSecondary· At 1, 3, and 6 months
Participants are asked if they had completed ACP conversations with their loved ones and clinicians.
1-Month
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
12
Control Arm
5
Intervention Arm
33
Control Arm
28
3-Month
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
7
Control Arm
5
Intervention Arm
33
Control Arm
37
6-Month
Group
Value
95% CI
Intervention Arm
9
Control Arm
2
Intervention Arm
30
Control Arm
27
Sponsor's own description
This is a two-armed, parallel-design, pre-/post-intervention assessment study. The investigators will conduct a randomized controlled trial for ED GOAL on a cohort of 120 older adults with serious illness to collect patient-centered outcomes and determine preliminary efficacy on increasing advance care planning engagement (self-reported and/or in the electronic medical record) one month after leaving the emergency department. The investigators will also conduct qualitative interviews with participants of ED GOAL.
Publications & conference data
4 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):
Publications: Europe PMC API search by NCT ID, retrieved 10 June 2026
Drug + disease cross-links: matched in real time against Drug Landscape's normalised drug + company + condition tables
Sponsor: as reported to ClinicalTrials.gov by Brigham and Women's Hospital
Last refreshed: 13 March 2026
Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT05209880.