AI care summaries to help caregivers understand their child’s hospitalization
Official title: Impact of AI Care Summaries on Caregiver Comprehension of Hospital Course
Run by Children's National Research Institute · NCT07831018 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial tests whether an AI-generated plain-language summary of inpatient notes helps caregivers of hospitalized children understand their child’s care better.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Children's National Research Institute Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Washington D.C., District of Columbia) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 5, 2026 |
| Main results expected | June 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | June 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 21, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07831018 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Caregivers of patients 10 years old or younger admitted to Children's National Hospital whose preferred language is English.
✕Probably not a fit
Caregivers of patients older than 10, not admitted to the Hospital Medicine service, whose preferred language is non-English, or situations where summaries are deemed clinically inaccurate are less likely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized study assigns caregiver participants to receive either the hospital’s standard communications alone or standard communications plus an AI-generated care summary written in plain language. The AI summaries are created from attending-signed progress notes and reviewed by physicians for accuracy before sharing with caregivers. Caregiver understanding is measured with a survey during the hospital stay and compared to the medical record to gauge comprehension. Additional exploratory analyses look at caregiver and physician views on AI in care, as well as post-discharge healthcare utilization and operational metrics related to AI summary generation. The study uses a HIPAA-compliant, institution-hosted large language model within the hospital’s Azure environment at Children's National Hospital.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, caregivers may better understand their child’s hospitalization, potentially improving satisfaction and engagement in care.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work with plain-language AI summaries in clinical settings has shown potential for improved communication, but this approach remains exploratory in pediatric inpatient contexts.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Caregiver of a patient 10 years and younger admitted to Children's National Hospital, whose preferred language is English Exclusion Criteria: * Caregivers of patients older than age 10 years * Caregivers of patients not admitted to the Hospital Medicine service * Caregivers of admitted patients whose preferred language is non-English * Patients whose care summaries are deemed inaccurate by their attending physician and not eligible for sharing with their caregiver.
Where it's running
-
Children's National Hospital
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Kristen E Johnson, MD, MS
- Email: kejohnson@childrensnational.org
- Phone: 571-235-6524
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.