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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03697213

The Surprise Study

This study investigates the use of the Surprise Question [SQ] (would you be surprised if this patient were to die in the next 12 months?) in routine practice. In particular, the study will investigate the consistency of the responses to the SQ and the relationship with the subsequent course of action decided upon.

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Key information

Conditions

Palliative Care Terminal Illness

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium

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About this study

Whilst the original use of the Surprise Question was to identify people who might be in the last year of life and benefit from palliative care, the prognostic capability of the Surprise Question has been shown to be variable. What is unclear, is the extent to which a doctor should be "surprised" before a patient is suitable for palliative care, how consistently doctors respond to this question, and how the subsequent treatment decision relates to the SQ response.

The study will recruit 600 General Practitioners (GPs) from 6 participating countries (100 per country; UK, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands). Each participant will asked to complete a series of 20 hypothetical patient summaries in an online task.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Registered General Practitioner in one of the six participating countries
  • Able to read and understand the language in which the questionnaire is presented to them

Exclusion criteria

  • None

Treatment and study plan

Online study

Other

20 hypothetical patient summaries

Primary outcomes

  1. Probability estimate

    Time frame: Participants will have up to 8 months (until the study closes) to provide an estimate for each vignette (n=20)

    The continuous estimate of probability of dying within the next 12 months for the SQ (0-100%).

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Surprise Question

    Time frame: up to 8 months (until the study closes)Participants will have up to 8 months (until the study closes) to provide a response for each vignette (n=20)

    Dichotomous response to the SQ (Yes/No)

  2. The alternative Surprise Question

    Time frame: up to 8 months (until the study closes)Participants will have up to 8 months (until the study closes) to provide a response for each vignette (n=20)

    Dichotomous response to the alternative SQ (Yes/No)

  3. Treatment options

    Time frame: up to 8 months (until the study closes)Participants will have up to 8 months (until the study closes) to provide a response for each vignette (n=20)

    The options for the course of action selected by the participants in each vignette

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University College, London

Other

Collaborators

  • Imperial College London
  • Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
  • Radboud University Medical Center
  • Universiteit Antwerpen
  • University of Bern
  • University of Bologna

Registry information

Official study title

An Online International Comparison of Thresholds for Triggering a Negative Response to the "Surprise Question"

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Oct 5, 2018
Registry last updated
Mar 27, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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