Evaluating the Preferences and Tradeoffs of AI-based Electronic Consultations for Older Adults in… (NCT07766694) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Evaluating the Preferences and Tradeoffs of AI-based Electronic Consultations for Older Adults in Primary Care
United States220 participantsStarted 2026-08
Plain-language summary
Electronic consultations, or e-consults, let a primary care doctor request medical advice from a specialist without requiring the patient to attend a separate visit. Artificial intelligence (AI) systems may be able to provide this type of advice, potentially making e-consults faster and less costly. However, whether AI-based e-consults are acceptable may depend on how patients and clinicians weigh factors such as who provides the advice, how quickly it is received, its cost, and its quality.
The purpose of this study is to examine how older adult patients and primary care clinicians weigh these factors when comparing e-consults produced by a human specialist with those produced by an AI system. In the study, participants will complete a one-time survey in which they compare sets of two hypothetical e-consults. Each e-consult will include a different combination of features, such as whether the advice comes from a human or AI, the expected wait time, the cost, and the quality of the advice. This study will estimate how much patients and clinicians value each feature in an e-consult. The findings will inform the potential future AI e-consults, so they better reflect patient and clinician preferences.
Who can participate
Age range
65 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.
PATIENTS:
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adult, 65 years of age or older
* Had at least two office visits at Penn Medicine in the past 12 months
* Has an upcoming appointment in a Penn Medicine primary care setting, including family medicine, internal medicine, and geriatric medicine
Exclusion Criteria:
* Documented Alzheimer's, dementia, or related condition
CLINICIANS:
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adult, 18 years of age or older
* Works at Penn Medicine as one of the following: physician, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant
* Works in a primary care Penn Medicine setting including: family medicine, internal medicine, geriatrics medicine
Exclusion Criteria:
* Actively in medical school, internship, or residency
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
Preferences and Tradeoffs of Attributes of Electronic Consults
Timeframe: From enrollment to the end of the survey, approximately 15 minutes