A randomised controlled feasibility trial protocol comparing face-to-face and video delivery of a specialist preoperative clinic for older people

ISRCTN ISRCTN95833238
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN95833238
IRAS number 310265
Secondary identifying numbers IRAS 310265
Submission date
12/01/2022
Registration date
06/04/2022
Last edited
05/09/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Surgery
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
We run a geriatric medicine clinic to discuss the risks, benefits, and options before an operation. We also assess and improve people’s health while waiting for the operation date. The VIGIL study is trying to find out if we can deliver this type of clinic over a video call.

During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, we converted all of our clinics from face-to-face to video appointments. This worked well and received positive feedback from staff and patients. We would now like to collect evidence to work out if video calls are a safe and effective way of doing things when compared to a face-to-face appointment. This requires a large trial of many people having either types of appointment.

The point of this study is to find out if a large study could work. We want to get the process of running a trial right, and check whether patients are able and wish to take part. This smaller study will not show if video or face-to-face appointments are better than one another, but will help us to sort out the complicated process of running a large trial in the future.

Who can participate?
Adults over 18 years old, in the process of being assessed for a planned aortic aneurysm operation by the vascular surgical team.

What does the study involve?
Patients referred from the vascular surgeons will receive a geriatrician face-to-face or video appointment as usual.
We will approach people to consent to the study who need planned aortic aneurysm surgery. This will not include people due an urgent operation. It will also exclude those unable to join a video clinic due to lack of equipment, eyesight or hearing being too poor, or severe communication difficulties.
The admin team will email or post-study leaflets to patients interested. A doctor will call to answer questions and take consent. If a person lacks capacity (unable to make a decision) to consent to join the trial, an appropriate carer or relative can provide advice to the study team if they would have wanted to join. Consent will be checked at the appointment.
Information for the study will be collected before and after the person’s operation, while in hospital including any complications, and then after the operation to look at changes in quality of life and abilities at home, as well as readmission to hospital or death.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Some patients may find a video call more convenient as there is no traveling and they can be in their own home. Patients will also be contributing to research that will although not benefit them, may benefit others in the future. We are unable to offer any payment or expenses for taking part.
There are no disadvantages to taking part in the study. There is a chance we can’t get all the information we need by the video call, or the video call may fail. In that case, we will arrange an extra face-to-face appointment on a day the patient is already attending Southmead Hospital

Where is the study run from?
North Bristol NHS Trust (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for
March 2021 to April 2023

Who is funding the study?
The Bristol Health Research Charity (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Philip Braude, philip.braude@nbt.nhs.uk

Contact information

Dr Philip Braude
Principal Investigator

CLARITY (Collaborative Ageing Research) group
Department for Medicine for Older People
Southmead Hospital
Southmead Road
Bristol
BS10 5NB
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0003-2936-8805
Phone +44 117950950
Email philip.braude@nbt.nhs.uk

Study information

Study designSingle-centre randomized controlled feasibility trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeOther
Participant information sheet 40934 PIS v0.21 12Jan2022.pdf
Scientific titleVIGIL - Video In Geriatric Intervention cLinic
Study acronymVIGIL
Study objectivesThis study aims to provide proof of concept examining the outcomes of a standard-of-care preoperative virtual geriatric clinic, compared to a face-to-face clinic, using standardised perioperative outcomes. It will test feasibility of the intervention with a view to developing a fully powered randomised controlled trial
Ethics approval(s)Approved 28/02/2022, Leeds and Bradford REC (Meeting held by video-conference via Zoom; +44(0)207 104 8083, (0)207 104 8210; bradfordleeds.rec@hra.nhs.uk), ref: 22/YH/0035
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedAneurysm surgery
InterventionGeriatric perioperative care outpatients clinic delivered by video or face-to-face. Patients will be referred by the vascular team where they will be screened for inclusion. Eligible patients will be contacted to explain the study and study information sheets will be emailed or posted. Potential partcipants will be telephoned two days later to take consent. Participants will be randomised to each arm of the study. The intervention will be delivered by video or in a face-to-face clinic. Follow-up data will be collected during and directly after the consultation, then while and inpatient for the surgery, three months later. If surgery no surgery occurs only three month follow-up will occur.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measureTo assess the feasibility of delivering a video geriatric preoperative clinic, compared to a face-to-face clinic:
1. Number of patients randomised: The number of patients willing to be randomised to different modalities of delivering the clinic. Success is defined as 50 patients, partial success if 80% are randomised (40 or more patients).
2. Proportion of patients adhering to the intervention allocated
3. Proportion of patients followed up
4. Proportion of completed preoperative assessments:
4.1. Cardiac assessments including:
4.1.1. Blood pressure (in last 12 months)
4.1.2. Electricardiogram (in last 12 months)
4.1.3. Exercise capacity (completion of Duke Activity Status Index)
4.1.4. Examination for heart failure (fluid balance assessment)
4.2. Cognitive assessments including: T-MoCA (Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
4.3. Respiratory assessments including: saturations (in last 12 months)
4.4. Diabetes assessments including: HbA1c (within the last 3 months if patient has diabetes)
Secondary outcome measures1. To assess the feasibility of measuring shared decision making
1.1. Proportion of completed shared decision making tool immediately after the clinic (collaboRATE)
1.2. Proportion of patients that convert to surgery

2. To test feasibility through process mapping of the preoperative pathway:
2.1. Process map of the perioperative pathway to determine optimal time for recruitment
2.2. Suggested time points for delivery of a video clinic

3. To test the feasibility of collecting clinical outcomes of:
3.1. For all patients surgery or not surgery:
3.1.1. Quality of life (EQ-5D at baseline and 3 months post-surgery, or matched time point if not had surgery)
3.1.2. Mortality (at discharge and 3 months post-surgery, or matched time point if not had surgery)
3.2. For those that have surgery only:
3.2.1 Length of hospital stay
3.2.2. Complications (postoperative morbidity score at inpatient days 1, 3, 5, 8)
Overall study start date01/03/2021
Completion date01/01/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
Lower age limit18 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants50
Key inclusion criteria1. Proposed aortic aneurysm surgery
2. Be able to read and communicate in English
3. Over 18 years old
Key exclusion criteria1. Emergency surgery prior to clinic attendance (within 1 week of referral)
2. Inability to participate in video consultation due to:
3. Lack of access to appropriate technology
4. Significant sensory impairment: registered blind or functional severe sight impairment e.g. unable to read study materials, or auditory e.g. unable to communicate using the telephone on screening
5. Inability to communicate on the telephone at screening e.g. advanced dementia
Date of first enrolment01/02/2022
Date of final enrolment01/08/2022

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

Southmead Hospital
North Bristol NHS Trust
Southmead Road
Westbury-on-trym
Bristol
BS10 5NB
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

North Bristol NHS Trust
Hospital/treatment centre

Research & Innovation Department
Southmead Hospital
Southmead Road
Bristol
BS10 5NB
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 117950950
Email researchsponsor@nbt.nhs.uk
Website http://www.nbt.nhs.uk/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/036x6gt55

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Bristol Health Research Charity

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/01/2023
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planThe completed study will be submitted for peer review journal publication. It will be presented at national conferences. A study report will be written for the Bristol Health Research Charity funders.
IPD sharing planRequests for data sharing will be considered at reasonable request in discussion with the funder and sponsor.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Participant information sheet version 0.21 12/01/2022 18/01/2022 No Yes
Protocol file version 1.1 18/01/2022 No No
Protocol (preprint) 01/09/2022 05/09/2022 No No
HRA research summary 28/06/2023 No No

Additional files

40934 VIGIL protocol 1.1.pdf
40934 PIS v0.21 12Jan2022.pdf

Editorial Notes

05/09/2022: Preprint reference added.
24/08/2022: The following changes have been made:
1. The recruitment end date has been changed from 01/04/2023 to 01/01/2023.
2. The overall trial end date has been changed from 01/10/2022 to 01/04/2023 and the plain English summary has been updated to reflect this change.
3. The ethics approval has been added.
4. The condition has been changed from "Aortic aneurysm surgery" to "Aneurysm surgery".
18/01/2022: Trial's existence confirmed by Bristol Health Research Charity.