Helping underserved communities talk about end-of-life care

Engaging underserved communities in end-of-life conversations: a cluster, randomized controlled trial

['FUNDING_R01'] · PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR · NIH-11003667

This study is all about helping Black and Hispanic patients talk about their healthcare wishes for when they reach the end of life, using support from their communities to make those conversations easier and more effective.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorPENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIV HERSHEY MED CTR (nih funded)
Locations1 site (HERSHEY, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11003667 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research focuses on improving end-of-life care for Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx patients by promoting advance care planning (ACP). It aims to engage these underserved communities through trusted social networks to facilitate discussions about their healthcare wishes and document them in advance directives. By implementing community-based interventions, the study seeks to understand which methods effectively increase ACP engagement and why. The ultimate goal is to enhance the quality of end-of-life care and reduce unnecessary suffering and healthcare costs.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are Black/African American and Hispanic/Latinx individuals who may not have engaged in advance care planning.

Not a fit: Patients who are already actively engaged in advance care planning or those who do not belong to underserved communities may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better end-of-life care for underserved populations, ensuring their healthcare wishes are respected and reducing unnecessary medical interventions.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that community-based interventions can effectively improve engagement in advance care planning among underserved populations, indicating a promising approach.

Where this research is happening

HERSHEY, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.