Shared Decision-MakingEMBRACENCT07652359
Empowering Monterey Bay Residents for Activated, Collaborative, and Equitable Care
A study testing Research Assistant Support in people with Shared Decision-Making and Quality of Life, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of the EMBRACE Study is to evaluate whether a facilitated intervention improves shared decision-making (SDM) and patient activation among low-income and minority individuals more than usual care only. The ultimate goal is to enhance SDM and patient activation in care. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Shared Decision-Making, Quality of Life, Advanced Illness
- What is being tested?
- Research Assistant Support
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 138 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 26 Aug 2026to 14 Jan 2030
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants must be receiving clinical care by a primary care physician in the Monterey area
- Participants must be 18 years or older.
- Participants must speak either English or Spanish.
- Participants must be able to consent verbally in English or Spanish to all study procedures.
- Participants must self-identify as a racial/ethnic minorities OR identify as having low-income status OR have public health insurance
Who cannot join
- Patients unable to respond to survey questions in either English or Spanish.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Stanford University
Palo Alto, California, 94304
Manali I. Patel, MD, MPH, MS, manalip@stanford.edu
About this study
Official title: EMBRACE - Empowering Monterey Bay Residents for Activated, Collaborative, and Equitable Care
The purpose of the EMBRACE Study is to evaluate whether a facilitated intervention improves shared decision-making (SDM) and patient activation among low-income and minority individuals more than usual care only. The ultimate goal is to enhance SDM and patient activation in care.
Read the detailed description
This study will assess if an intervention that is delivered by a Stanford trained Research Assistant (RA) will help people better engage in their care with their clinicians.
A total of n=138 patients will be recruited for this study using flyers that will be distributed to our community partner organizations. Approximately 69 patients will be randomized into each study group.
Participants will receive either usual care or will be assigned into the intervention (EMBRACE). Participants assigned to the intervention will receive education provided by a trained RA who will meet with participants by phone for 30 minutes once a month for 6 months to: 1) discuss the importance of shared decision-making, advance care planning, and goal concordant care, and 2) encourage to engage in SDM with their clinicians.
All participants in the study will receive 4 surveys: at baseline (at time of enrollment), 1, 3, and 6 months after study enrollment by telephone, mail, or through a secure REDCap online link delivered to participants.
- Being tested
- Research Assistant Support
- Keywords
- Goals of care, Advanced care planning
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Research Assistant SupportBehavioural
For those in the experimental group, a Research Assistant will provide health education and support as described in the Intervention arm.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Usual Care | No intervention | This arm is the control group. They will receive usual care from their regular provider and care team with no change in their care plans as a result of the intervention. Outcomes will be assessed at each of the following times: baseline, 3-months, and 6-months post-enrollment. |
| EMBRACE plus usual care | Experimental | Participants assigned to the intervention will receive education provided by a trained RA who will meet with participants by phone for 30 minutes once a month for 6 months to: 1) discuss shared decision-making and 2) encourage to engage in SDM with their clinicians. Outcomes will be assessed at each of the following times: baseline, 3-months, and 6-months. Receives: Behavioral: Research Assistant Support |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Patient activation using the "Patient Activation Measure" survey
Each patient will receive a validated patient activation survey using the "Patient Activation Measure" at enrollment and 3 months after study enrollment. This is a validated measure from Insignia Health. Responses are: disagree strongly, disagree, agree, agree strongly with higher activation correlated with responses of agree and agree strongly. Each item is rated on 4-point scale (1 strongly disagree to 4 strongly agree, with additional "not applicable" option). Higher scores indicate greater patient activation. For the PAM-10, minimum score is 0 (if all not-applicable) and maximum is 40. Raw scores are converted into activation levels per the scoring guidelines by Insignia Health for: level 1 Disengaged and Overwhelmed, level 2 Becoming Aware but Still Struggling, level 3 Taking Action and Gaining Control, level 4 Maintaining "Behaviors and Pushing Further. Scores for each group will be averaged at 3 months after study enrollment.
Measured: 3-months post-enrollment
Patient activation using the "Patient Activation Measure" survey
Each patient will receive a validated patient activation survey using the "Patient Activation Measure" at enrollment and 6 months after study enrollment. This is a validated measure from Insignia Health. Responses are: disagree strongly, disagree, agree, agree strongly with higher activation correlated with responses of agree and agree strongly. Each item is rated on 4-point scale (1 strongly disagree to 4 strongly agree, with additional "not applicable" option). Higher scores indicate greater patient activation. For the PAM-10, minimum score is 0 (if all not-applicable) and maximum is 40. Raw scores are converted into activation levels per the scoring guidelines by Insignia Health for: level 1 Disengaged and Overwhelmed, level 2 Becoming Aware but Still Struggling, level 3 Taking Action and Gaining Control, level 4 Maintaining "Behaviors and Pushing Further. Scores for each group will be averaged at 6 months after study enrollment.
Measured: 6-months post-enrollment
Secondary outcomes (8)
Quality of shared decision-making using the "Shared Decision Making" questionnaire
The SDM-Q-9, a questionnaire assessing patient involvement in shared decision-making (SDM), is scored by summing the responses to its nine items, each on a 6-point Likert scale (0 completely disagree to 5 completely agree). The raw scores range from 0 to 45, with higher scores indicating greater perceived SDM. The change in shared-decision making from baseline to 3 months will be measured.
Measured: 3-months post-enrollment
Quality of shared decision-making using the "Shared Decision Making" questionnaire
The SDM-Q-9, a questionnaire assessing patient involvement in shared decision-making (SDM), is scored by summing the responses to its nine items, each on a 6-point Likert scale (0 completely disagree to 5 completely agree). The raw scores range from 0 to 45, with higher scores indicating greater perceived SDM. The change in shared-decision making at baseline to 6 months will be measured.
Measured: 6-months post-enrollment
Patient Quality of Life Using the "Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General Survey"
Each patient will the validated "Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General Survey (FACT-G)," which is a 27-item survey with response options including: not at all, a little bit, somewhat, quite a bit, or very much. Five items also allow for a response of 'prefer not to answer.' Scoring for the FACT-G will be done in accordance with the FACT-G Scoring Guidelines (Version 4), available here: https://www.facit.org/measures-scoring-downloads/fact-g-scoring-downloads. In summary, scoring is for four subscales included within the survey, including (1) Physical Well-Being (score range: 0-28), (2) Social Family Well-Being (score range: 0-28), (3) Emotional Well-Being (score range: 0-24), and (4) Functional Well-Being (score range: 0-28). A total score is created from the sum of the subscale scores and has a minimum of zero and maximum of 108, where a higher score indicates greater quality of life. The change in quality of life at baseline to 3 months will be measured.
Measured: 3-months post-enrollment
Patient Quality of Life Using the "Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General Survey"
Each patient will the validated "Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General Survey (FACT-G)," which is a 27-item survey with response options including: not at all, a little bit, somewhat, quite a bit, or very much. Five items also allow for a response of 'prefer not to answer.' Scoring for the FACT-G will be done in accordance with the FACT-G Scoring Guidelines (Version 4), available here: https://www.facit.org/measures-scoring-downloads/fact-g-scoring-downloads. In summary, scoring is for four subscales included within the survey, including (1) Physical Well-Being (score range: 0-28), (2) Social Family Well-Being (score range: 0-28), (3) Emotional Well-Being (score range: 0-24), and (4) Functional Well-Being (score range: 0-28). A total score is created from the sum of the subscale scores and has a minimum of zero and maximum of 108, where a higher score indicates greater quality of life. The change in quality of life at baseline to 6 months will be measured.
Measured: 6-months post-enrollment
Feeling Heart and Understood Using the "Ambulatory Palliative Care Patients' Experience of Feeling Heard and Understood"
The "Feeling Heard and Understood" Survey is a self-report instrument designed to assess participants' subjective experiences of being listened to and understood in clinical care settings. The survey consists of Likert-scale items that capture the quality and emotional impact of these experiences. Participants rate statements on a 5-point scale ranging from "Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree." Composite scores are calculated by averaging item responses, with higher scores indicating a greater perceived sense of being heard and understood. The change in feeling heard and understood at baseline to 3 months will be measured.
Measured: 3-months post-enrollment
Feeling Heart and Understood Using the "Ambulatory Palliative Care Patients' Experience of Feeling Heard and Understood"
The "Feeling Heard and Understood" Survey is a self-report instrument designed to assess participants' subjective experiences of being listened to and understood in clinical care settings. The survey consists of Likert-scale items that capture the quality and emotional impact of these experiences. Participants rate statements on a 5-point scale ranging from "Strongly Disagree" to "Strongly Agree." Composite scores are calculated by averaging item responses, with higher scores indicating a greater perceived sense of being heard and understood. The change in feeling heard and understood at baseline to 6 months will be measured.
Measured: 6-months post-enrollment
Preference-Concordant Care using the "Preference Concordant Care" Survey
The Preference Concordant Care survey is a patient-reported instrument designed to assess the extent to which healthcare delivery aligns with a patient's individual preferences, values, and goals of care. The tool utilized Likert-style questions to evaluate six key domains: understanding of preferences, alignment of care, communication, provider advocacy, outcome satisfaction, and responsiveness to changes in patient values over time. Higher scores across domains indicate stronger alignment of care with the patient's stated preferences. The change in preference-concordant care at baseline to 3 months will be measured.
Measured: 3-months post-enrollment
Preference-Concordant Care using the "Preference Concordant Care" Survey
The Preference Concordant Care survey is a patient-reported instrument designed to assess the extent to which healthcare delivery aligns with a patient's individual preferences, values, and goals of care. The tool utilized Likert-style questions to evaluate six key domains: understanding of preferences, alignment of care, communication, provider advocacy, outcome satisfaction, and responsiveness to changes in patient values over time. Higher scores across domains indicate stronger alignment of care with the patient's stated preferences. The change in preference-concordant care at baseline to 6 months will be measured.
Measured: 6-months post-enrollment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted17 Jun 2026
- Study start26 Aug 2026
- Primary completion14 Jul 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion14 Jan 2030 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Shared Decision-MakingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Stanford UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 138 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Gilead Sciences
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Manali Indravadan Patel, Stanford University
- Investigators
- Manali I Patel, MD, MPH, MS, Principal investigator, Stanford University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07652359
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 80353
- Acronym
- EMBRACE
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 27 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Study data will not be shared with researchers outside of this project.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 27 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- EMBRACE - Empowering Monterey Bay Residents for Activated, Collaborative, and Equitable Care
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07652359
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- EMBRACE / 80353
- Keywords
- Goals of care, Advanced care planning
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 138 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Stanford UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Gilead Sciences
- Study start
- 26 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 14 Jul 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 14 Jan 2030 (estimated)
- First posted
- 17 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of the EMBRACE Study is to evaluate whether a facilitated intervention improves shared decision-making (SDM) and patient activation among low-income and minority individuals more than usual care only. The ultimate goal is to enhance SDM and patient activation in care.
Detailed description
This study will assess if an intervention that is delivered by a Stanford trained Research Assistant (RA) will help people better engage in their care with their clinicians.
A total of n=138 patients will be recruited for this study using flyers that will be distributed to our community partner organizations. Approximately 69 patients will be randomized into each study group.
Participants will receive either usual care or will be assigned into the intervention (EMBRACE). Participants assigned to the intervention will receive education provided by a trained RA who will meet with participants by phone for 30 minutes once a month for 6 months to: 1) discuss the importance of shared decision-making, advance care planning, and goal concordant care, and 2) encourage to engage in SDM with their clinicians.
All participants in the study will receive 4 surveys: at baseline (at time of enrollment), 1, 3, and 6 months after study enrollment by telephone, mail, or through a secure REDCap online link delivered to participants.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (care provider, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Usual Care | No intervention | –This arm is the control group. They will receive usual care from their regular provider and care team with no change in their care plans as a result of the intervention. Outcomes will be assessed at each of the following times: baseline, 3-months, and 6-months post-enrollment. |
| EMBRACE plus usual care | Experimental | Behavioral: Research Assistant SupportParticipants assigned to the intervention will receive education provided by a trained RA who will meet with participants by phone for 30 minutes once a month for 6 months to: 1) discuss shared decision-making and 2) encourage to engage in SDM with their clinicians. Outcomes will be assessed at each of the following times: baseline, 3-months, and 6-months. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Participants must be receiving clinical care by a primary care physician in the Monterey area
- Participants must be 18 years or older.
- Participants must speak either English or Spanish.
- Participants must be able to consent verbally in English or Spanish to all study procedures.
- Participants must self-identify as a racial/ethnic minorities OR identify as having low-income status OR have public health insurance
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Patients unable to respond to survey questions in either English or Spanish.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Research Assistant SupportFor those in the experimental group, a Research Assistant will provide health education and support as described in the Intervention arm. | Behavioural | EMBRACE plus usual care |
Primary outcome
Patient activation using the "Patient Activation Measure" survey
Time frame: 3-months post-enrollment
Each patient will receive a validated patient activation survey using the "Patient Activation Measure" at enrollment and 3 months after study enrollment. This is a validated measure from Insignia Health. Responses are: disagree strongly, disagree, agree, agree strongly with higher activation correlated with responses of agree and agree strongly. Each item is rated on 4-point scale (1 strongly disagree to 4 strongly agree, with additional "not applicable" option). Higher scores indicate greater patient activation. For the PAM-10, minimum score is 0 (if all not-applicable) and maximum is 40. Raw scores are converted into activation levels per the scoring guidelines by Insignia Health for: level 1 Disengaged and Overwhelmed, level 2 Becoming Aware but Still Struggling, level 3 Taking Action and Gaining Control, level 4 Maintaining "Behaviors and Pushing Further. Scores for each group will be averaged at 3 months after study enrollment.
Patient activation using the "Patient Activation Measure" survey
Time frame: 6-months post-enrollment
Each patient will receive a validated patient activation survey using the "Patient Activation Measure" at enrollment and 6 months after study enrollment. This is a validated measure from Insignia Health. Responses are: disagree strongly, disagree, agree, agree strongly with higher activation correlated with responses of agree and agree strongly. Each item is rated on 4-point scale (1 strongly disagree to 4 strongly agree, with additional "not applicable" option). Higher scores indicate greater patient activation. For the PAM-10, minimum score is 0 (if all not-applicable) and maximum is 40. Raw scores are converted into activation levels per the scoring guidelines by Insignia Health for: level 1 Disengaged and Overwhelmed, level 2 Becoming Aware but Still Struggling, level 3 Taking Action and Gaining Control, level 4 Maintaining "Behaviors and Pushing Further. Scores for each group will be averaged at 6 months after study enrollment.
8 secondary outcomes
Quality of shared decision-making using the "Shared Decision Making" questionnaire
Time frame: 3-months post-enrollment
Quality of shared decision-making using the "Shared Decision Making" questionnaire
Time frame: 6-months post-enrollment
Patient Quality of Life Using the "Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General Survey"
Time frame: 3-months post-enrollment
Patient Quality of Life Using the "Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General Survey"
Time frame: 6-months post-enrollment
Feeling Heart and Understood Using the "Ambulatory Palliative Care Patients' Experience of Feeling Heard and Understood"
Time frame: 3-months post-enrollment
Feeling Heart and Understood Using the "Ambulatory Palliative Care Patients' Experience of Feeling Heard and Understood"
Time frame: 6-months post-enrollment
Preference-Concordant Care using the "Preference Concordant Care" Survey
Time frame: 3-months post-enrollment
Preference-Concordant Care using the "Preference Concordant Care" Survey
Time frame: 6-months post-enrollment
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 27 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Study data will not be shared with researchers outside of this project.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Manali I Patel, MD, MPH, MS principal investigator
Stanford University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Research Assistant Support in people with Shared Decision-Making and Quality of Life, run by Stanford University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 27 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Manali I Patel, MD, MPH, MS ((650) 736-2768, manalip@stanford.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Patient activation using the "Patient Activation Measure" survey (time frame: 3-months post-enrollment). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 27 Aug 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.