Impact of a Protocol for Announcing Decision of Withholding and Withdrawing Life-sustaining Treatments on the Stress of the Relatives in the Emergency Departments

Launched by HOSPICES CIVILS DE LYON · Oct 2, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a new way of communicating about the decision to stop or limit life-sustaining treatments can help reduce stress for families in emergency departments. When a loved one is critically ill, decisions about their care can be made quickly, often in stressful situations. This trial aims to train emergency department staff in better communication skills using role-playing and involving family members in the process. The goal is to see if this approach helps families cope better with the news and lowers their chances of experiencing anxiety or post-traumatic stress symptoms later on.

To participate, eligible individuals include trusted relatives or friends of patients who are present during these difficult announcements, as well as caregivers working in the emergency departments. Participants should be at least 18 years old and able to understand and communicate in French. They will be asked to share their experiences through interviews. The trial is not yet recruiting participants, but it aims to improve the way sensitive information is shared in emergency settings, ultimately supporting families during very challenging times.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• For relatives, will be included in the study:
• • Trusted persons, families or relatives present in the emergency departments and to whom the 1st announcement of a decision to limit or stop therapies is made by a physician participating in the study. Several persons can be included for the same patient (maximum 3) in the following order: trusted person \> family \> close relative.
• • Age of trusted person, family or close friends over 18 years old.
• • Informed consent given and voice rights signed for families accepting the semi-directed interview.
• For caregivers, also included in the study will be:
• • Caregivers on participating wards.
• • Informed consent given and voice rights signed for families accepting the semi-directed interview.
• For partner families, will be included in the study:
• • Trusted persons, families or relatives present in the emergency department and to whom the 1st announcement of a decision to limit or stop therapy by a physician in a participating emergency department is made.
• • Age of trusted person, family or close friends over 18 years old.
• • Signed consent for the right to voice recording.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• For relatives:
• • Trusted person, family or close friend whose announcement would have been made entirely by telephone.
• • Trusted person, family or close friend unable to understand or write in French.
• • Pregnant women, women in labor or nursing mothers.
• • Persons deprived of liberty by a judicial or administrative decision.
• • Persons under psychiatric care.
• • Persons admitted to a health or social institution for purposes other than research.
• • Persons of full age who are subjects to a legal protection measure (guardians, curators).
• • Persons not affiliated to a social security system or beneficiaries of a similar system.
• For caregivers:
• • - Persons not affiliated to a social security system or beneficiaries of a similar system.