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 |
| ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT) | Nil known |
| Clinical Trials Information System (CTIS) | Nil known |
| Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) | 310265 |
| Protocol serial number | IRAS 310265 |
| Sponsor | North Bristol NHS Trust |
| Funder | Bristol Health Research Charity |
- 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
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
Principal investigator
CLARITY (Collaborative Ageing Research) group
Department for Medicine for Older People
Southmead Hospital
Southmead Road
Bristol
BS10 5NB
United Kingdom
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-2936-8805 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +44 117950950 |
| philip.braude@nbt.nhs.uk |
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Single-centre randomized controlled feasibility trial |
| Secondary study design | Randomised controlled trial |
| Participant information sheet | 40934 PIS v0.21 12Jan2022.pdf |
| Scientific title | VIGIL - Video In Geriatric Intervention cLinic |
| Study acronym | VIGIL |
| Study objectives | This 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) studied | Aneurysm surgery |
| Intervention | Geriatric 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 type | Other |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
To assess the feasibility of delivering a video geriatric preoperative clinic, compared to a face-to-face clinic: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. To assess the feasibility of measuring shared decision making |
| Completion date | 01/01/2023 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 50 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Proposed aortic aneurysm surgery 2. Be able to read and communicate in English 3. Over 18 years old |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. 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 enrolment | 01/02/2022 |
| Date of final enrolment | 01/08/2022 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- United Kingdom
- England
Study participating centre
Southmead Road
Westbury-on-trym
Bristol
BS10 5NB
United Kingdom
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| IPD sharing plan | Requests 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? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRA research summary | 28/06/2023 | No | No | ||
| Participant information sheet | version 0.21 | 12/01/2022 | 18/01/2022 | No | Yes |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
| Protocol (preprint) | 01/09/2022 | 05/09/2022 | No | No | |
| Protocol file | version 1.1 | 18/01/2022 | No | No |
Additional files
- 40934 VIGIL protocol 1.1.pdf
- Protocol file
- 40934 PIS v0.21 12Jan2022.pdf
- Participant information sheet
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.
