- Study protocol
- Open access
- Published:
Improving partnerships with family members of ICU patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Trials volume 19, Article number: 3 (2018)
Abstract
Background
Over the last decade, health care delivery has shifted to partnering with patients and their families to improve health and quality of care, and to lower costs. Partnering with family members (FMs) of critically ill patients who lack capacity is particularly important for improving experiences and outcomes for both patients and FMs. How best to apply such partnering strategies, however, is yet unknown. The IMPACT trial will evaluate two interventions that enable partnerships with families of critically ill patients, each in a distinct content area, but similar in that they empower and support FMs.
Methods
This multi-center, open-label, randomized, phase II clinical trial aims to randomize 150 older, long-stay ICU patients and their families into one of three groups (50 in each group): (1) The OPTimal nutrition by Informing and Capacitating FMs of best practices (OPTICs) group, a multi-faceted intervention to engage and empower FMs to advocate for, and audit, best nutritional practices for their critically ill FMs, (2) A web-based decision-support intervention called the ICU Workbook (The Canadian Researchers at the End of Life Network (CARENET) ICU Workbook; https://www.myicuguide.ca/. Accessed 3 Feb 2017.) to support families in shared decision-making process regarding goals of medical treatments, and (3) Usual care. The main outcomes for this trial include nutritional adequacy in hospital and hand-grip strength prior to hospital discharge; satisfaction with decision-making; decision conflict; and degree of shared decision-making.
Discussion
With the goal of improving the functional recovery of nutritionally high-risk older patients and the quality of care at the end of life for these patients and their FMs in the ICU, we have proposed two novel family capacitation strategies. We hope that the nutrition and decision-support interventions implemented and evaluated in our study will contribute to the evidentiary basis for best family partnered care pathways focused on optimizing the quality of ICU care for patients with life-threatening illness and their families.
Trial registration
Clinical trials.gov, ID: NCT02920086. Registered on 30 September 2016. Protocol version dated 11 October 2016.
Background
Over the last decade, health care delivery has shifted to partnering with patients and their families to improve health and quality of care, and to lower costs. Partnering with family members (FMs, i.e., immediate family, relatives, friends, and significant others) of critically ill patients who lack capacity is particularly important for improving experiences and outcomes for both patients and FMs [1,2,3]. Partnering with FMs decreases patient anxiety, confusion and agitation [4], reduces complications [5], decreases intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay [6], and improves long-term cognitive performance [7]. Overall, partnering with families helps patients feel more secure and increases patient and family member satisfaction [8,9,10]. Independent of its effect on patient outcomes, partnering with FMs has also been shown to reduce their anxiety, depression and psychological symptoms [5, 6, 11, 12]. Thus, such strategies that improve patient and FM outcomes, shorten ICU and hospital length of stay, and have the potential to save billions of dollars per year in health care costs [11].
How best to apply such partnering strategies, however, is unknown. The IMPACT trial will evaluate two interventions that enable partnerships with families of critically ill patients, each in a distinct content area, but similar in that they empower and support FMs. The first is a nutritional intervention, the OPTimal nutrition by Informing and Capacitating family members of best practices (OPTICs), a multi-faceted intervention to engage and empower FMs to advocate for, and audit, best nutritional practices for their critically ill FMs. The second is a web-based decision-support intervention called the ICU Workbook [13] to support families in shared decision-making process regarding goals of medical treatments.
Herein, we describe the methodological approach to testing these interventions in the context of a phase II randomized clinical trial, the IMPACT trial.
Methods
Conceptual frameworks
There are many determinants of the medical care that patients receive and their subsequent outcomes that include health systems and larger social factors (see Fig. 1). In an environment where the FM best knows the patient and the heath care team best knows the patient’s medical condition, we envision both coming together to make shared decisions and optimize patient outcomes. However, many FMs do not have the knowledge or confidence to perform this role [14]. Accordingly, we set out to develop interventions that support families in this key partnering role.
To inform the development of the interventions, we used three theoretical frameworks (Lightening our Load [15], Working to Get Through [16], and Facilitated Sensemaking [17, 18]) developed by members of our team. These models recognize the importance of FM involvement and participation in communication, decision-making, and bedside care. The resultant sense of purpose and control may reduce post-intensive care syndrome, a series of stress-related complications experienced by FMs of critically ill patients (Fig. 2) [19, 20].
The background rationale and prior development work related to these interventions are discussed in Additional file 1.
Overall aims and hypotheses
Our overall aim is to investigate whether, and how, the tools, knowledge, and skills provided to FMs will increase their satisfaction with care, and their sense of efficacy to act as advocates for best practice. We hypothesize that the multi-faceted strategies that engage families in patient care will: (1) increase the patient’s nutritional intake; (2) optimize physical recovery in older critically ill patients at high risk of nutritional problems; (3) reduce FMs’ psychological distress; (4) improve family satisfaction with decision-making; and (5) reduce the duration of ICU stay for future decedents. We further hypothesize that the trial will be feasible (as judged by enrollment rates and compliance with the protocol), the interventions efficacious, and contamination rates low (<10% of families in the usual care group will have been exposed to either or other interventions). The primary and secondary outcomes for each intervention are different and are explained below.
Study design
This multi-center, open-label, randomized, phase II clinical trial involves three groups (two active interventions and one usual care, see Fig. 3). We report the methods of this study according to the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) Checklist (see Additional file 2). By comparing the effects of the two treatment groups to the usual care group, we will understand the overall treatment effect of each intervention. To control for the possibility that the extra time and attention provided to families through the interventions may alter their perception of care and impact the outcomes of interest [21], we will also compare the treatment effects between two active interventions, thereby addressing this potential “placebo effect.” The comparison of the two active interventions groups will be considered secondary to the comparisons of each active group to the usual care group. All three comparisons will be pairwise with no pooling of groups.
Setting
Eight tertiary ICUs in Canada (n = 4), the United States (n = 2), and Australia (n = 2) will participate in this phase II trial to understand important geographical, jurisdictional, or cultural factors that may influence the feasibility and efficacy at this stage of the program’s development. If the phase II trial is successful, the findings will be generalizable to a broader range of ICUs nationally and internationally.
Study population
Given the nature of the study interventions, FMs of ICU patients who are “nutritionally high-risk” and/or those at risk of dying in the ICU, or during the subsequent hospitalization will be eligible to participate. The specific patient and FM eligibility criteria are presented in Additional file 3. Research coordinators (RCs) will review census lists and screen hospital charts daily to identify potentially eligible patients.
Randomization
Consent from eligible FMs will be obtained within 72 h following admission to the local ICU after the RC has explained the study objectives and procedures. Once informed consent is obtained, the RC will log onto the web-based randomization system. The randomization system will use a computer-generated randomization schedule allocating patients 1:1:1 by the method of permuted blocks of random undisclosed size within strata, to either (1) the OPTICs intervention, (2) the decision-support intervention, or (3) usual care. Randomization will be stratified by site.
Study interventions
Following randomization, the RC will meet the FM, complete the baseline data collection (see Additional file 4) and initiate the study procedures (see Fig. 4), as described below.
OPTICs nutrition intervention
FMs randomized to the OPTICs nutrition intervention will meet with a dietitian early in the patient’s ICU stay (within 72 h of randomization). The dietitian will collect the patient’s brief nutritional history, verbally communicate the results of the nutritional risk assessment to the FM and clinical team, and place copies of the assessment in the hospital record. In addition, they will educate the FM about nutritional support in the ICU, focusing on capacitating all FMs to interact with health care providers (HCPs) and ask them about the nutrition that their critically ill relative is receiving. The FM will be provided with a booklet that reiterates the nutritional information and includes materials to help the family approach and ask questions of HCPs. The dietitian will assess comprehension using “talk-back” techniques [22]. In addition to the written resource, the FM will have ongoing access to videos that provide similar information as the booklet. Posters will be placed in the patient’s room with information about the OPTICs intervention (where permitted). The dietitian will communicate with the FM throughout the ICU stay to answer questions and identify unmet needs.
At or near the time of the patient’s ICU discharge, the dietician will provide further education based on the patient’s current nutritional status (i.e., receiving nutritional support, eating by mouth, swallowing difficulties), information about the nutrition that the patient can expect once on the ward, and will show the FM an educational video specific to nutrition after ICU discharge. As soon as the patient transitions to oral intake, the dietitian will introduce the FM to the nutrition diary, an oral intake audit tool to record the patient’s oral food intake at each meal. The patient will be followed by the ICU dietitian while in the ICU and by the ward dietitian once transferred.
Once patients in all groups are taking liquids by mouth, they will receive two or more Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS) per day (approximately 400 kcal/day) as the existing academic literature suggests a positive impact on patient outcomes [23]. This is considered to be part of standard of care, but in this nutritional intervention arm the FM will be encouraged to advocate for the patient to receive them, coach the patient to take them as ordered, and monitor oral intake of the supplements using the nutrition diary. A nutrition care plan for the ward will be developed by the dietitian and communicated to the FM and patient. A 3-day calorie count will be completed weekly to capture calories and protein consumed from oral intake, including ONS, while the patient is on the ward until hospital discharge or for a maximum of 4 weeks, whichever comes first. Just prior to hospital discharge, the dietitian will work with the patient and FM to develop a home nutrition plan provided to them in writing at the time of discharge. All study materials for the OPTICs intervention can be found on the Critical Care Nutrition website [24]. All other co-interventions will be permitted; this family engagement strategy will be provided in addition to usual care.
Decision-support intervention
The decision-support intervention consists of an online resource entitled “ICU Workbook” [13] that provides information to families on principles of shared decision-making, experiences that may be expected during the ICU stay, and advice on coping with the stress of having a FM in the ICU. This resource was developed from 19 qualitative interviews of FMs’ perceived stressors and coping strategies used during the decision-making process, and has been pilot tested [25]. Integrated into this online resource are several sections and resources listed in Table 1. The RC will go through the content of the website guide, using talk-back techniques to ensure that FMs understand the key concepts presented on the website [22]. Paper copies of the electronic content will also be given to FMs and a link to the website so they can return to review materials at a later date. After completing the ICU Workbook with FMs, the RC will verbally communicate the results of the exercises to the clinical team. The questions and answers will be summarized and copies of the report placed on the hospital record, and a copy will be given to the FMs. Next, the RC will work with the health care team to arrange a family meeting including the attending physician and bedside nurse to review patient goals of care within 72 h of completing the ICU Workbook. The RC will attend this meeting to record its content using the Observing Patient Involvement (OPTION) tool (described below). The RC will connect with FMs throughout the ICU stay and upon discharge from ICU, to build and maintain the relationship and answer questions, and to facilitate communication of the ICU Workbook report to the attending physician and clinical team on the ward.
Usual care
Patients randomized to usual care will not receive any study interventions. Baseline data collection and outcome assessment will be performed similarly as for the intervention groups. Local practices will determine the extent to which families receive support from allied health care professionals in the management of nutrition and decision-making for their relative.
Outcomes
The current project is a phase II trial focusing on short-term efficacy and feasibility outcomes. The future phase III IMPACT trial will likely have two co-primary outcomes related to the nutritional and decision-support interventions. For the nutritional intervention, the primary outcome will represent the patient’s physical recovery long term (i.e., 6-minute walk distance at or before hospital discharge, activities of daily living, and the 36-item Short Form survey (SF-36) Physical Function at 6 months) as suggested by current experts [26]. Secondary outcomes include adequacy of nutrition in the ICU, ONS consumption on the wards, time to discharge alive from hospital (time-to-event analysis with death as competing risk), ICU and hospital outcomes (mortality and length of stay), 90-day readmission rates, and the cost-effectiveness of the intervention. We expect that as a consequence of their involvement and engagement in patient care, FMs’ psychological well-being will be improved as well in this group. For the decision-support intervention, the primary outcome will be a measure of family psychological well-being (symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [27]), and post-traumatic stress disorder (Impact of Events-Revised [28]) 6 months after the ICU stay). Secondary outcomes will include family satisfaction with decision-making using the Decision-making component of the Family Satisfaction with ICU Care (FS-ICU24) subscale and length of ICU stay for decedents (a marker of poor quality end-of-life (EOL) care from patients’ perspective and that has been responsive to prior palliative care interventions in the ICU).
For the purpose of this phase II study, we are evaluating more proximal (short-term) outcomes and process measures. These outcomes will be collected by the RC and will be assessed 2–3 weeks after ICU-related death or discharge or prior to hospital discharge, whichever comes first. Table 2 presents all process measures (short-term or long-term) planned for the current phase II and future III studies. To enable comparisons across all three groups, all process and outcome measures will be performed for all patients. With respect to the nutritional intervention, one of the key short-term outcomes will be nutritional adequacy during ICU stay. We have previously shown that patients who receive greater nutritional adequacy support in the ICU have better long-term outcomes [29]. In the ICU, to assess nutritional adequacy, the total amount of energy or protein received from either enteral nutrition (EN) or parenteral nutrition (PN), inclusive of propofol, will be divided by the amount prescribed in the baseline assessment and expressed as a percentage for patients in all groups. Unfortunately, no easy method exists to measure nutritional adequacy on the hospital wards where patients are likely taking nutrition by mouth. We plan to do 3-day calorie counts weekly for 4 weeks during the hospital study as well as collect the use of ONS from all study patients.
For the purposes of this phase II trial, we will assess physical recovery by measuring hand-grip strength at hospital discharge for patients in all groups. Impaired muscle strength is an important outcome because of its association with disability and functional decline, and reduced health-related quality of life (QOL) [30]. The OPTICs intervention FMs who actively engage with nutritional care of their loved ones may show improved family satisfaction with care. Additionally, engagement in care is theorized to support FM participation in patient ICU care [16, 18] and to be protective of the FM’s mental health by providing a sense of purpose in crisis [17].
We will evaluate the impact of the decision-support intervention on shared decision-making with FMs using the Observing Patient Involvement (OPTION) instrument, developed to evaluate communication during shared decision-making [31]. During the initial family conference after the decision-support intervention (or similar time frame for other groups), the RC will identify key shared decision-making behaviors (such as “did the clinician present pros and cons of various treatment options?”) and select a response from the 5-point scale ranging from “is not observed” to “observed and executed to a high standard.” The total summed score ranges from 0 to 48, with higher scores indicating greater competency in shared decision-making [31].
To assess the impact of the decision-support intervention on FM decision conflict, we will use the 10-item Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS) [32]. This scale is validated and reliable, and used extensively to evaluate the effectiveness of shared decision-making interventions such as patient decisions aids and counseling [33]. Scores range from 0 (no conflict) to 100 (high conflict); scores greater than 50 are associated with delayed decisions. This scale has to be linked to a decision made or an expressed preference. Accordingly, at baseline and at the end of the first week, we will elicit a preference for use of life-sustaining treatments in the ICU setting and administer the DCS to all participating FMs. At the same two time points, we will ask the FM about their preference for use of life-sustaining therapies.
We will also use the FS-ICU24 survey to obtain ratings of satisfaction with ICU care from designated FMs of all patients enrolled in the study. This questionnaire has been shown to have content and construct validity, high reliability (correlation coefficient = 0.85), and two validated subscales (Satisfaction with Overall Care and Satisfaction with Decision-Making) [34, 35]. We will administer FS-ICU24 to FMs of surviving patients upon ICU discharge and mail the questionnaire to FMs of decedents 2–3 weeks following death [34].
For this phase II trial, additional outcomes include the feasibility and fidelity of the implementation and measures of contamination as shown in Table 3. Plans to manage the data will be consistent with standard operating procedures at the coordinating center.
Sample size
The total sample size for this phase II trial is 150 patients (50 per group). We expect the subsequent phase III trial will require 20–30 sites with up to 1000 patients in total. As one of the primary goals of this phase II trial is to assess the feasibility of implementing the study interventions, we plan to assess feasibility at multiple sites. With approximately 10–20 patients per site, we expect to gain enough experience to assess the feasibility of the study protocol per site.
For each intervention, we have performed a sample size calculation for one of the key short-term outcomes of each intervention. From our prior work, we know that the average nutritional adequacy of these patients during their ICU stay will be 40–50% with a standard deviation of 30% [36]. We aim to detect a small but clinically meaningful increase in nutritional adequacy of approximately 20%. Under these assumptions 50 patients per group will achieve 92% power at a two-sided alpha = 0.05. For the decision-support intervention, we will power the trial to evaluate family satisfaction with decision-making. In our prior REALISTIC-80 study, the standard deviation of the FS-ICU24 “Decision-making” domain was 11; we consider an increase of 5.5 points (a medium effect size) to be plausible and clinically important. With 50 evaluable subjects per group, we would achieve 71% power at a two-sided alpha = 0.05 to detect a 5.5-point difference between groups.
Given the other objectives of the study related to feasibility, compliance, and contamination, a sample size of 50 per group will allow us to assess these endpoints with reasonable precision, consistent with the sample size of other phase II studies. For example, with 50 patients per group there is a 95% chance of estimating a binary variable (such as loss to follow-up, contamination, compliance, etc.) to within ± 14% and any variable with a rate < 15% or > 85% (as would be expected for loss to follow-up, contamination, or compliance) could be estimated to within ± 10% or 19 times out of 20.
Statistical analysis
The feasibility outcomes will be described by group as rates with 95% confidence intervals. Reasons for loss-to-follow-up, non-compliance, and contamination will be tabulated. The distribution of the continuous outcomes described above will be described by group and compared among groups using a mixed-effects model with treatment arm as a fixed effect and site as a random effect. Due to the limited (six to eight) number of sites in this phase II trial, we will perform a sensitivity analysis, treating site as a fixed effect. For the binary outcomes, we will use the Mantel-Haenszel test stratified by site. At this exploratory phase II stage we will not formally adjust p values for multiplicity of tests but will consider the potential type I and type II errors in our interpretation of results. For key efficacy outcomes with > 5% missing data, multiple imputation will be used for the primary analysis supplemented by a complete case sensitivity analyses. The heterogeneity between sites will be estimated by the intra-class correlation coefficient for all outcomes; in case this is needed to inform the design of a subsequent cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) [37].
Ethics
We will obtain local ethics approval at each participating site before commencing. RCs will obtain written informed consent from FMs for their participation in the trial and proxy consent from the same FM to enable data collection related to the patient. For surviving patients, as they regain competency, we will consent them prospectively for their continued involvement in the study (obtaining hand-grip strength prior to hospital discharge). Given that the interventions are not directed towards the patient (we are only collecting data from the hospital record), we will not be collecting or reporting serious adverse events and there will be no Data Monitoring Committee for this trial. There are no financial or other competing interests for any of the co-authors. Results will be published and posted on the study team’s internationally renowned websites [38, 39] to aid in dissemination.
Discussion
With the goal of improving the functional recovery of nutritionally high-risk older patients and the quality of care by patients at the end of life and their FMs in the ICU, we have proposed two novel family capacitation strategies. We hope that the nutrition and decision-support interventions implemented and evaluated in our study will contribute to the evidentiary basis for a family partnered care pathway focused on optimizing the quality of ICU care for patients with life-threatening illness and their families. We aim to start enrollment in the first quarter of 2017.
References
Ely EW, Shintani A, Truman B, Speroff T, Gordon SM, Harrell Jr FE, et al. Delirium as a predictor of mortality in mechanically ventilated patients in the intensive care unit. JAMA. 2004;291:1753–62.
Stevens RD, Nyquist PA. Types of brain dysfunction in critical illness. Neurol Clin. 2008;26:469–86. ix.
Tonelli MR, Misak CJ. Compromised autonomy and the seriously ill patient. Chest. 2010;137:926–31.
Hupcey JE. Looking out for the patient and ourselves—the process of family integration into the ICU. J Clin Nurs. 1999;8:253–62.
Fumagalli S, Boncinelli L, Lo Nostro A, Valoti P, Baldereschi G, Di Bari M, et al. Reduced cardiocirculatory complications with unrestrictive visiting policy in an intensive care unit: results from a pilot, randomized trial. Circulation. 2006;113:946–52.
Melnyk BM, Feinstein NF, Alpert-Gillis L, Fairbanks E, Crean HF, Sinkin RA, et al. Reducing premature infants’ length of stay and improving parents’ mental health outcomes with the Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment (COPE) neonatal intensive care unit program: a randomized, controlled trial. Pediatrics. 2006;118:e1414–27.
Melnyk BM, Alpert-Gillis L, Feinstein NF, Fairbanks E, Schultz-Czarniak J, Hust D, et al. Improving cognitive development of low-birth-weight premature infants with the COPE program: a pilot study of the benefit of early NICU intervention with mothers. Res Nurs Health. 2001;24:373–89.
Bastani F, Abadi TA, Haghani H. Effect of family-centered care on improving parental satisfaction and reducing readmission among premature infants: a randomized controlled trial. J Clin Diagn Res. 2015;9:SC04–8.
Hinkle LJ, Bosslet GT, Torke AM. Factors associated with family satisfaction with end-of-life care in the ICU: a systematic review. Chest. 2015;147:82–93.
Kodali S, Stametz RA, Bengier AC, Clarke DN, Layon AJ, Darer JD. Family experience with intensive care unit care: association of self-reported family conferences and family satisfaction. J Crit Care. 2014;29:641–4.
Melnyk BM, Feinstein NF. Reducing hospital expenditures with the COPE (Creating Opportunities for Parent Empowerment) program for parents and premature infants: an analysis of direct healthcare neonatal intensive care unit costs and savings. Nurs Adm Q. 2009;33:32–7.
Melnyk BM, Alpert-Gillis L, Feinstein NF, Crean HF, Johnson J, Fairbanks E, et al. Creating opportunities for parent empowerment: program effects on the mental health/coping outcomes of critically ill young children and their mothers. Pediatrics. 2004;113:e597–607.
The Canadian Researchers at the End of Life Network (CARENET). ICU Workbook. https://www.myicuguide.ca/. Accessed 3 Feb 2017.
Majesko A, Hong SY, Weissfeld L, White DB. Identifying family members who may struggle in the role of surrogate decision maker. Crit Care Med. 2012;40:2281–6.
Vandall-Walker V, Jensen L, Oberle K. Nursing support for family members of critically ill adults. Qual Health Res. 2007;17:1207–18.
Vandall-Walker V, Clark AM. It starts with access! A grounded theory of family members working to get through critical illness. J Fam Nurs. 2011;17:148–81.
Davidson JE, Daly BJ, Agan D, Brady NR, Higgins PA. Facilitated sensemaking: a feasibility study for the provision of a family support program in the intensive care unit. Crit Care Nurs Q. 2010;33:177–89.
Davidson JE. Facilitated sensemaking: a strategy and new middle-range theory to support families of intensive care unit patients. Crit Care Nurse. 2010;30:28–39.
Davidson JE, Jones C, Bienvenu OJ. Family response to critical illness: postintensive care syndrome-family. Crit Care Med. 2012;40:618–24.
Davidson JE, Netzer G. Family response to critical illness. In: Bienvenu OJ, Jones C, Hopkins RO, editors. Psychological and cognitive impact of critical illness. New York: Oxford University Press; 2017. p. 191–209.
Lipsey MW, Wilson DB. The efficacy of psychological, educational, and behavioral treatment. Confirmation from meta-analysis. Am Psychol. 1993;48:1181–209.
Schillinger D, Piette J, Grumbach K, Wang F, Wilson C, Daher C, et al. Closing the loop: physician communication with diabetic patients who have low health literacy. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:83–90.
Philipson TJ, Snider JT, Lakdawalla DN, Stryckman B, Goldman DP. Impact of oral nutritional supplementation on hospital outcomes. Am J Manag Care. 2013;19:121–8.
Clinical Evaluation Research Unit (CERU). IMPACT Nutrition Education Tools. http://criticalcarenutrition.com/research/optics/study-tools. Accessed 3 Feb 2017.
Suurdt J. Surrogate decision making for the critically ill intensive care unit patient. Thesis. Kingston Ontario: Queen’s University; 2008.
Heyland DK, Stapleton RD, Mourtzakis M, Hough CL, Morris P, Deutz NE, et al. Combining nutrition and exercise to optimize survival and recovery from critical illness: Conceptual and methodological issues. Clin Nutr. 2016;35:1196–206.
Zigmond AS, Snaith RP. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983;67:361–70.
Sundin EC, Horowitz MJ. Horowitz’s Impact of Event Scale evaluation of 20 years of use. Psychosom Med. 2003;65:870–6.
Wei X, Day AG, Ouellette-Kuntz H, Heyland DK. The association between nutritional adequacy and long-term outcomes in critically Ill patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation: a multicenter cohort study. Crit Care Med. 2015;43:1569–79.
Griffiths RD, Hall JB. Intensive care unit-acquired weakness. Crit Care Med. 2010;38:779–87.
Elwyn G, Hutchings H, Edwards A, Rapport F, Wensing M, Cheung WY, et al. The OPTION scale: measuring the extent that clinicians involve patients in decision-making tasks. Health Expect. 2005;8:34–42.
O’Connor AM. Validation of a decisional conflict scale. Med Decis Making. 1995;15:25–30.
Stacey D, Bennett CL, Barry MJ, Col NF, Eden KB, Holmes-Rovner M, et al. Decision aids for people facing health treatment or screening decisions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001431.pub3.
Heyland DK, Tranmer JE. Kingston General Hospital ICU Research Working Group. Measuring family satisfaction with care in the intensive care unit: the development of a questionnaire and preliminary results. J Crit Care. 2001;16:142–9.
Wall RJ, Engelberg RA, Downey L, Heyland DK, Curtis JR. Refinement, scoring, and validation of the Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit (FS-ICU) survey. Crit Care Med. 2007;35:271–9.
Jones NE, Dhaliwal R, Jiang X, Heyland DK. Nutrition therapy in the critical care setting: what is the best achievable practice? An international quality improvement project. Crit Care. 2009;13 Suppl 1:143.
Donner A, Klar N. Design and analysis of cluster randomization trials in health research. London: Hodder Arnold; 2000. p. 7–10.
The Canadian Researchers at the End of Life Network (CARENET). The CARENET. http://www.thecarenet.ca/. Accessed 3 Feb 2017.
Clinical Evaluation Research Unit (CERU). Critical care nutrition. http://www.criticalcarenutrition.com/. Access 3 Feb 2017.
Acknowledgements
Not applicable.
Funding
This project was partially funded from a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The funders played no role in the design, conduct or analysis of the trial nor has any authority over these activities.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
DKH, JD, YS, ARO, LJV, AD, VVW, and APM contributed substantially to the study conception and design, drafted the article, or revised it critically for important intellectual contact. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Ethics approval and consent to participate
This protocol will be reviewed at all participating centers and approved by local Ethics Boards prior to starting the study at each site. Currently, it has been approved at all US, Canadian and Australian sites. We will obtain written informed consent from all participants.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Additional files
Additional file 1:
Description of background rationale for the OPTICs and decision-support intervention. (DOCX 47 kb)
Additional file 2:
SPIRIT 2013 Checklist: recommended items to address in a clinical trial protocol and related documents. (DOCX 74 kb)
Additional file 3:
Eligibility criteria. (DOCX 45 kb)
Additional file 4:
Baseline data collection. (DOCX 45 kb)
Rights and permissions
Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.
About this article
Cite this article
Heyland, D.K., Davidson, J., Skrobik, Y. et al. Improving partnerships with family members of ICU patients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Trials 19, 3 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-017-2379-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-017-2379-4