I CAN DO: Surgical Advance Care Planning
I CAN DO Surgical ACP (Improving Completion, Accuracy, and Dissemination of Surgical Advanced Care Planning) Trial
This project tests whether giving people aged 65 and older who are having elective surgery a letter, easy-to-read advance directive forms, access to the PREPARE website, reminders, and optional navigator support will increase advance care planning and documentation.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 6000 (estimated) |
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of California, San Francisco Academic / other |
| Locations | 3 sites (Irvine, California and 2 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT06090552 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults aged 65+ referred for elective surgery are randomized to one of three groups with increasing levels of ACP support: mailed materials and PREPARE website access; the same plus automated reminder messages; or the same plus reminders and one-on-one support from a healthcare navigator. The intervention is integrated into the EHR-centered pre-surgery workflow and all intervention patients complete a patient-reported ACP engagement survey. The primary outcome is clinically meaningful ACP documentation in the medical record, and the study tests whether documentation increases with intervention intensity. Key exclusions are having a recent ACP on file or prior randomization during the study period, and the trial is conducted at UCSF, UCI, and the University of Minnesota.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults age 65 or older referred for elective surgical evaluation at participating sites who do not already have a recent advance care plan on file and have not previously been enrolled in the trial.
Not a fit: Patients who already have an advance care plan documented within the study's timeframe, those not receiving elective surgery at a participating center, or those unreachable by mail/phone/email are unlikely to benefit from the intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more patients' care preferences would be documented before surgery so clinicians can honor their wishes during urgent or complex decisions.
How similar studies have performed: PREPARE-based interventions have shown promise in prior work for increasing patient engagement in ACP, though embedding PREPARE into EHR preoperative workflows with automated reminders and navigator support is less well tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: \- Older Adults (age 65+) referred for surgical evaluation Exclusion Criteria: 1. ACP on file within 3 years prior to surgery (UCSF and UCI) and 5 years (UMN) 2. Was previously randomized into intervention for a prior surgery during the 18-month study period
Where this trial is running
Irvine, California and 2 other locations
- University of California, Irvine — Irvine, California, United States (Recruiting)
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, California, United States (Recruiting)
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Elizabeth Wick, MD — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Elizabeth Wick, MD
- Email: Elizabeth.wick@ucsf.edu
- Phone: 415-353-2357
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.