Evaluation of the STEP Intervention for Long-Term Care Residents Facing Hospital Transfer Decisions (NCT07153341) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Evaluation of the STEP Intervention for Long-Term Care Residents Facing Hospital Transfer Decisions
Canada200 participantsStarted 2025-10-01
Plain-language summary
This trial will evaluate whether the Supporting Transitions and Empowering Preferences (STEP) toolkit can improve decision-making about hospital transfers in long-term care residents and their substitute decision-makers and enhance decision self-efficacy in nursing staff.
The trial will answer the questions:
* Does the STEP tool reduce decisional conflict in residents and care partners at the time of transfer decisions?
* Does it improve nurse self-efficacy related to hospital transfer decisions?
Participants will:
* Use the STEP tool during key moments of care planning (admission, care conferences, and acute events)
* Complete a short survey measuring their decisional conflict
* Be supported by trained nurses who use STEP to guide hospital transfer discussions
Researchers will compare data collected before and after the STEP tool is implemented at two long-term care homes to see if it improves shared decision-making related to hospital transfers by reducing decisional conflict.
Who can participate
Age range
55 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria
Residents-care partner dyads:
* Must be residents of either Perley Health or Bruyère Health Saint-Louis LTC home.
* Residents must be 55 years of age or older.
* Must be able to communicate in French or English.
Both members of the dyad will be included where applicable. For dyads in which residents do not have the capacity to participate, inclusion will occur through the involvement of their substitute decision-maker (e.g., power of attorney for personal care).
LTC staff:
* Must be a nurse, nurse practitioner, social service worker or physician actively involved in care planning, annual conferences, or managing acute health events at Perley Health or Bruyère Health.
* Must have been employed at the LTC home for at least 6 months to ensure familiarity with the care environment and residents.
* Must play a role in facilitating discussions, providing clinical input (where applicable), or guiding decision-making processes related to hospital transitions or acute care management.
* Must be able to communicate in French or English.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Decisional Conflict
Timeframe: Administered by Research Assistant 1-6 weeks after a transition decision.