About this trial

Low health literacy patients are a vulnerable population at high-risk for surgical disparities including longer hospital stays, more complications, and more readmissions. This study will adapt enhanced recovery programs (ERPs) to low health literacy patients with a multilevel, health literacy-based implementation strategy (called VISACT - VISuAl aids, Coach providers in communication, and Train organizations in health literacy) to improve ERP fidelity and thereby outcomes. In the final aim of this project (Specific Aim 3), the VISACT intervention will be tested in a pilot trial. Findings from this study will lay the foundation for a multi-institutional stepped-wedge trial and establish key principles for adapting interventions to eliminate disparities.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Adult patients >= 18 years of age undergoing surgery under an enhanced recovery program (ERPs)

Adult caregivers/providers, organizational leaders, >= 18 years of age with direct or indirect involvement with ERP implementation

All genders

All race/ethnicities

Disqualifiers

Child (<18 years of age)

Patients undergoing operations not included under ERPs

Participants unable to consent for the study

Participants whose mental state excludes them from being able to understand contents of the informed consent form and/or patients whose family members or patient representative do not wish for them to participate in the study

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Educational intervention (VISACT)

Treatment groups

1,050 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group

Locations

1
University of Alabama at Birmingham35233, BirminghamAlabama, United States

Sponsors and collaborators

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator