Randomized Controlled Trial of Advance Care Planning Video Decision Aid for the General Population

Abstract Context Advance care planning (ACP) in a healthy general population could improve the quality of care when a health problem arises. Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of video decision-support aid in increasing the intention to document ACP in the general, healthy population. Methods In this randomized controlled trial, we enrolled 250 members of the general population (aged ≥20 years and determined to be healthy), stratified by age and sex. The intervention was a video that provided information about ACP and end-of-life care options such as CPR and palliative care. An attention-control arm was given a booklet about advance directives. Primary outcome was a change in intention to document ACP. Secondary outcomes included the intention to refuse CPR at terminal status, CPR and palliative care knowledge score, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results 250 participants were randomly assigned, half to the video-assisted intervention group and half to the attention-control group. Within 1 week post-intervention, the intention to document ACP was significantly higher in the video-assisted intervention arm (68.0% vs 39.2%; p Conclusion A well-constructed, video decision support intervention can increase the intention to document ACP in the general population that presumably had little opportunity to discuss ACP with physicians.