Improving communication and resilience in racially diverse patients with serious illness

Racial Inequities in End-of-life Healthcare: How Perceived Discrimination Affects Communication and Decision-making During Serious Illness

Phase 2 Interventional University of Washington · NCT04915079

This study is testing a new program to help racially diverse patients with serious illnesses improve their communication with doctors and build resilience through stress management skills.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Washington Academic / other
Locations1 site (Seattle, Washington)
Trial IDNCT04915079 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This pilot randomized trial aims to test the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the Promoting Resilience in Stress Management (PRISM) intervention for improving resilience and communication between patients and clinicians in racially diverse patients facing serious illnesses. The PRISM program consists of five one-on-one sessions that focus on teaching resilience skills such as stress management and problem-solving. The study will involve 60 patients who will complete surveys at enrollment and at 1 and 3 months post-randomization to assess the impact of the intervention. The approach is grounded in stress and coping theory and has been previously successful in other patient populations.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are seriously ill adults aged 18 and older who have a median life expectancy of two years or less and are English-speaking.

Not a fit: Patients who are younger than 18, non-English speaking, or have cognitive impairments that prevent participation will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could enhance the quality of life and self-advocacy for racially diverse patients with serious illnesses.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown success with similar resilience-based interventions in other patient populations, indicating potential for this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Seriously ill adults with median life expectancy of two years or less (e.g. metastatic cancer or inoperable lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) \<35% predicted or oxygen dependence, restrictive lung disease with total lung capacity (TLC) \<50% predicted, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV heart failure, or Child's class C cirrhosis or Model for End Stage Liver Disease(MELD) \>17)
* Hospitalized at either Harborview Medical Center or University of Washington Medical Center-Montlake
* At least 18 years of age
* English-speaking
* No cognitive impairment precluding completion of surveys or participation in the PRISM sessions

Exclusion Criteria:

* Younger than 18 years of age
* Non-English speaking
* Ccgnitive impairment that would preclude completion of surveys and participation in the PRISM sessions.

Where this trial is running

Seattle, Washington

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 Discrimination, RacialCommunicationChronic IllnessBias, Racial
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.