Advance care planning discussions for young adults undergoing stem cell transplants

Longitudinal Early Advance Care Planning Discussions and Documentation (LEADD) Program: An Exploratory Study in Adolescents and Young Adults (AYAs) Receiving Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant

Not applicable Interventional National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) · NCT05605574

This study is trying to see if having ongoing conversations about care preferences helps young adults aged 18 to 39 who are getting stem cell transplants and their caregivers feel more comfortable and supported during the process.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment222 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 120 Years
SexAll
SponsorNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) NIH
Locations2 sites (Baltimore, Maryland and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05605574 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This exploratory study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of conducting longitudinal advance care planning (ACP) discussions with adolescents and young adults (AYAs) aged 18 to 39 years who are scheduled to undergo hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Participants, along with their identified caregivers, will engage in a series of structured conversations to express their values and goals regarding care during the transplant process. The study will involve completing a 20-minute questionnaire to gather insights on the impact of these discussions on patient-centered care. The goal is to overcome barriers to ACP conversations and improve communication between patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking adolescents and young adults aged 18 to 39 who are scheduled for an allogeneic HSCT.

Not a fit: Patients who are not English-speaking or those outside the age range of 18 to 39 years will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance the quality of care and decision-making for young adults undergoing HSCT by ensuring their values and preferences are prioritized.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on advance care planning in other populations, this specific approach with AYAs undergoing HSCT is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
* INCLUSION CRITERIA:
* AYA Participants:

  * Age \>= 18 to \<= 39 years.
  * Planned allogeneic HSCT at a participating site.
  * Participants must be English speaking.
  * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
* Caregiver Participants:

  * Age: \>= 18 years.
  * Identified as caregiver by participating AYA participant. Only a single caregiver will be allowed to participate.
  * Physically present at the participating site.
  * Participants must be English speaking.
  * Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
* Provider participants:

Healthcare providers at the participating site who are part of the AYA participant s HSCT team and provided direct clinical care to AYA participants during period of study enrollment between completion of conversation #1 and conversation #3.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

None.

Where this trial is running

Baltimore, Maryland and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Hematopoietic Stem Cell TransplantationCommunicationGoals Of CareVoicing My ChoicesPalliative CarePsychosocial
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.