BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Adult children increasingly provide care to parents from varying distances, yet the relationship between proximity and caregiver mental health is not well understood. This study characterizes caregiving activities of adult-child caregivers based on residential proximity to their parent and examines associations with depression and anxiety symptoms. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS:Data from the 2021 National Health and Aging Trends Study Round 11 was linked with National Study of Caregiving IV. The sample included adult-child caregivers of Medicare beneficiaries aged 71 and older. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations between proximity (travel time between the caregivers and their parents), caregiving activities, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Analyses were weighted to produce nationally representative estimates. RESULTS:Among 932 caregivers representing more than 9 million caregivers nationwide, 26.3% co-reside with care-recipients, 47.4% live 1-20 min away, 13.1% live 21-59 min away, and 13.2% are long-distance caregivers living ≥1 hr away. Co-residing caregivers were more likely to perform health management, health care, Activities of Daily Living, and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living tasks. However, proximity was not associated with differences in health system logistics, patient advocacy, and financial support activities. Proximity did not predict of depression or anxiety in adjusted models. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS:Adult children engage in diverse caregiving activities regardless of distance, especially in logistics, advocacy, and financial support. Factors beyond proximity likely influence caregiver mental health. Findings highlight the need for tailored policies and services supporting both distance and proximal caregivers of older adults.

Introduction:Achieving health equity necessitates addressing social determinants of health. Value-based payment models encourage healthcare systems to address patients' health-related social needs such as housing, food, and transportation. Leading organizations advocate for integrating social needs screening in clinical care to connect patients with necessary services. This study aimed to explore patients' experiences and motivations for completing social needs screening during clinical visits and engaging with community service navigators. The goal is to inform more effective health system strategies for addressing social needs and ultimately enhance population health. Methods:This is a qualitative descriptive study involving clinical visits to adult or pediatric emergency departments or mobile clinics and COVID-19 testing sites within a large tertiary academic healthcare system in the intermountain U.S. Sixty-three patients (30 Spanish speaking and 33 English speaking) who screened positive for social needs were involved. Telephone interviews were conducted with participants who screened positive for social needs and who were referred to service navigators for community resources. Data were analyzed using NVIVO software, identifying key themes through open coding and consensus among content experts. Results:The results revealed that social needs screening facilitated the development of meaningful relationships, making patients feel cared for and supported. Patients initially had low expectations but were often pleasantly surprised and relieved by the resources provided. Although some patients successfully obtained the necessary resources, these sentiments were balanced by others who experienced discomfort or suspicion regarding the screening process. In addition, some patients encountered barriers such as ineligibility, technological challenges, and emotional burdens, which led to frustration and discouragement. Conclusions:Effective health-related social needs screening and referral processes can foster positive patient relationships and address significant social needs. However, the manner of screening and the support provided for navigating resources are crucial. Enhanced support systems are essential to overcome referral barriers and ensure that patients can access necessary services, contributing to improved health equity and reduced disparities.

Introduction:In alignment with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requirements, hospitals increasingly screen for health-related social needs (HRSNs) such as housing, food, and transportation. However, these protocols often exclude instrumental social support-help with tasks like managing medications or attending appointments-which may influence post-discharge outcomes. Methods:We analyzed social risk data from 5 medical-surgical units at a US quaternary academic medical center. Among 413 inpatients (mean age 48.9 years; 52.1% male; 85.5% non-Hispanic White), we examined whether patient-reported instrumental social support and unmet HRSNs were associated with 30-day emergency department (ED) visits or rehospitalizations. Models were adjusted for LACE scores, a validated index of length of stay, admission acuity, comorbidity burden, and ED visits. Results:Within 30 days of discharge, 7.3% of patients had an ED visit, and 7.3% were rehospitalized. In adjusted models, higher instrumental social support was associated with lower odds of ED visits (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.59-1.00). Unmet HRSNs were not significantly associated with either outcome. Higher LACE scores predicted increased utilization (ED visits, OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.15-1.45; rehospitalizations, OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.09-1.36). Conclusion:Instrumental social support may influence short-term post-discharge outcomes. Expanding CMS-aligned screening to include support availability could improve discharge planning and reduce unplanned utilization. Trial registration:Clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT04248738.

Background: Discharge communication between hospitalists and primary care clinicians is essential to improve care coordination, minimize adverse events, and decrease unplanned health services use. Health-related social needs are key drivers of health, and hospitalists and primary care clinicians value communicating social needs at discharge. Objective: To 1) characterize the current state of discharge communications between an academic medical center hospital and primary care clinicians at associated clinics; 2) seek feedback about the potential usefulness of discharge readiness information to primary care clinicians. Design: Exploratory, convergent mixed methods. Participants: Primary care clinicians from Family Medicine and General Internal Medicine of an academic medical center in the US Intermountain West. Approach: Literature-informed REDCap survey. Semistructured interview guide developed with key informants, grounded in current literature. Survey data were descriptively summarized; interview data were deductively and inductively coded, organized by topics. Results: Two key topics emerged: 1) discharge communication, with interrelated topics of transitional care management and follow-up appointment challenges, and recommendations for improving discharge communication; and 2) usefulness of the discharge readiness information, included interrelated topics related to lack of shared understanding about roles and responsibilities across settings and ethical concerns related to identifying problems that may not have solutions. Conclusions: While reiterating perennial discharge communication and transitional care management challenges, this study reveals new evidence about how these issues are interrelated with assessing and responding to patients' lack of readiness for discharge and unmet social needs during care transitions. Primary care clinicians had mixed views on the usefulness of discharge readiness information. We offer recommendations for improving discharge communication and transitional care management (TCM) processes, which may be applicable in other care settings. ( J Am Board Fam Med 2024;37:706-736.)

BACKGROUND:Social risk screening during inpatient care is required in new CMS regulations, yet its impact on inpatient care and patient outcomes is unknown. OBJECTIVES:To evaluate whether implementing a social risk screening protocol improves discharge processes, patient-reported outcomes, and 30-day service use. RESEARCH DESIGN:Pragmatic mixed-methods clinical trial. SUBJECTS:Overall, 4130 patient discharges (2383 preimplementation and 1747 postimplementation) from general medicine and surgical services at a 528-bed academic medical center in the Intermountain United States and 15 attending physicians. MEASURES:Documented family interaction, late discharge, patient-reported readiness for hospital discharge and postdischarge coping difficulties, readmission and emergency department visits within 30 days postdischarge, and coded interviews with inpatient physicians. RESULTS:A multivariable segmented regression model indicated a 19% decrease per month in odds of family interaction following intervention implementation (OR=0.81, 95% CI=0.76-0.86, P<0.001), and an additional model found a 32% decrease in odds of being discharged after 2 pm (OR=0.68, 95% CI=0.53-0.87, P=0.003). There were no postimplementation changes in patient-reported discharge readiness, postdischarge coping difficulties, or 30-day hospital readmissions, or ED visits. Physicians expressed concerns about the appropriateness, acceptability, and feasibility of the structured social risk assessment. CONCLUSIONS:Conducted in the immediate post-COVID timeframe, reduction in family interaction, earlier discharge, and provider concerns with structured social risk assessments likely contributed to the lack of intervention impact on patient outcomes. To be effective, social risk screening will require patient/family and care team codesign its structure and processes, and allocation of resources to assist in addressing identified social risk needs.

Background: Social risk screening during inpatient care is required in new CMS regulations, yet its impact on inpatient care and patient outcomes is unknown. Objectives: To evaluate whether implementing a social risk screening protocol improves discharge processes, patient-reported outcomes, and 30-day service use. Research Design: Pragmatic mixed-methods clinical trial. Subjects: Overall, 4130 patient discharges (2383 preimplementation and 1747 postimplementation) from general medicine and surgical services at a 528-bed academic medical center in the Intermountain United States and 15 attending physicians. Measures: Documented family interaction, late discharge, patient-reported readiness for hospital discharge and postdischarge coping difficulties, readmission and emergency department visits within 30 days postdischarge, and coded interviews with inpatient physicians. Results: A multivariable segmented regression model indicated a 19% decrease per month in odds of family interaction following intervention implementation (OR=0.81, 95% CI=0.76–0.86, P<0.001), and an additional model found a 32% decrease in odds of being discharged after 2 pm (OR=0.68, 95% CI=0.53–0.87, P=0.003). There were no postimplementation changes in patient-reported discharge readiness, postdischarge coping difficulties, or 30-day hospital readmissions, or ED visits. Physicians expressed concerns about the appropriateness, acceptability, and feasibility of the structured social risk assessment. Conclusions: Conducted in the immediate post-COVID timeframe, reduction in family interaction, earlier discharge, and provider concerns with structured social risk assessments likely contributed to the lack of intervention impact on patient outcomes. To be effective, social risk screening will require patient/family and care team codesign its structure and processes, and allocation of resources to assist in addressing identified social risk needs.

More than 17.7 million people in the U.S. care for older adults. Analyzing population datasets can increase our understanding of the needs of family caregivers of older adults. We reviewed 14 U.S. population-based datasets (2003-2023) including older adults' and caregivers' data to assess inclusion and measurement of 8 caregiving science domains, with a focus on whether measures were validated and/or unique variables were used. Challenges exist related to survey design, sampling, and measurement. Findings highlight the need for consistent data collection by researchers, state, tribal, local, and federal programs, for improved utility of population-based datasets for caregiving and aging research.

Background COVID-19 impacted the experience of being hospitalized with the widespread adoption of strict visitation policies to ensure healthcare worker safety. One result was decreased time of caregivers at the bedside of hospitalized patients. Objective To understand the impact of pandemic-related system effects on patient-reported discharge preparation. Design This mixed methods study included interviews with a sample of discharged patients during April 2020, and quantitative hospital data from April 2020 to February 2021. Participants 616 patients completed a measure of discharge readiness on their day of discharge and 38 patients completed interviews about their discharge experiences. Main measures Readiness for discharge (RHDS), visitation policies, ward structure changes, COVID-19-unit census, time into the COVID-19 pandemic, patient characteristics (age, sex, race/ethnicity), admission type (planned/unplanned, for COVID-19), and discharge destination (home, home health, skilled nursing). Key results Adult patients aged 30–45 (vs. young and older adult patients) and those being discharged to places other than home (e.g., skilled nursing facility) or to out-of-state residences report lower readiness ( p < 0.05) on RHDS. Patient interviews revealed some gaps in discharge communication but, overall, patients expressed high discharge readiness and few concerns about how COVID-19 system changes impacted their discharge preparation. Conclusions While there is some evidence that visitation policies and unit census may impact patient perceptions of discharge preparation, personal characteristics contributed more significantly to discharge readiness than system changes during COVID-19. Participant interviews demonstrated agreement, as most participants were discharged home and identified strong personal feelings of readiness for discharge. Clinical trials registration : ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04248738, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04248738 .

IntroductionIntrahospital transitions (IHTs) represent movements of patients during hospitalisation. While transitions are often clinically necessary, such as a transfer from the emergency department to an intensive care unit, transitions may disrupt care coordination, such as discharge planning. Family carers often serve as liaisons between the patient and healthcare professionals. However, carers frequently experience exclusion from care planning during IHTs, potentially decreasing their awareness of patients’ clinical status, postdischarge needs and carer preparation. The purpose of this study was to explore family carers’ perceptions about IHTs, patient and carer ratings of patient discharge readiness and carer self-perception of preparation to engage in at home care.MethodsSequential, explanatory mixed-methods study involving retrospective analysis of hospital inpatients from a parent study (1R01HS026248; PI Wallace) for whom patient and family carer Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS) score frequency of IHTs and patient and caregiver characteristics were available. Maximum variation sampling was used to recruit a subsample of carers with diverse backgrounds and experiences for the participation in semistructured interviews to understand their views of how IHTs influenced preparation for discharge.ResultsOf discharged patients from July 2020 to April 2021, a total of 268 had completed the RHDS and 23 completed the semistructured interviews. Most patients experienced 0–2 IHTs and reported high levels of discharge readiness. During quantitative analysis, no association was found between IHTs and patients’ RHDS scores. However, carers’ perceptions of patient discharge readiness were negatively associated with increased IHTs. Moreover, non-spouse carers reported lower RHDS scores than spousal carers. During interviews, carers shared barriers experienced during IHTs and discussed the importance of inclusion during discharge care planning.ConclusionsIHTs often represent disruptive events that may influence carers’ understanding of patient readiness for discharge to home and, thus, their own preparation for discharge. Further consideration is needed regarding how to support carers during IHT to facilitate high-quality discharge planning.

Equitable global health partnerships are essential to promote innovative research and strengthen research capacity to address critical public health challenges, but how to optimally evaluate such collaborations is unclear. This was a sequential, multi-method study that utilized an electronic survey informed by the literature followed by semi-structured interviews to comprehensively evaluate the experience of participating in a global research-capacity building collaboration between Nepal and U.S. clinicians and investigators. De-identified quantitative survey were analyzed to calculate descriptive and summary statistics, along with crosstabs of each variable by group. Groups were defined based on country-of-origin and Chi Square statistics calculated to assess for statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between groups. Interviews were analyzed using a descriptive qualitative approach to develop an overall thematic map. 22 survey responses (52.4% response rate) were analyzed; 13 (59.1%) from Nepal, 9 (40.9%) from the U.S. Eight participants (4 Nepal; 4 U.S.) were interviewed. Over the course of the project, all participants reported gaining experience and confidence with research. The majority of participants "strongly agreed" there was a shared understanding of goals, priorities and strategies (Nepal, 58.3%, n = 7; U.S., 88.9%, n = 8;) and that power was shared equally (Nepal, 58.3%, n = 7; U.S., 55.6%, n = 5). The over-arching theme that emerged from the interviews was the importance of 'establishing community' which participants discussed within the broader context of COVID-19. Overall, team members reported strong bi-directional benefit and a greater emphasis on perceived benefits versus challenges. Our survey tool and interview guide, designed to holistically evaluate the impact of a global partnership across various levels of the Social Ecological Model, with particular attention to power dynamics and equity, can be adapted and used by others engaged in similar research capacity collaborations.

Abstract Older adults often rely on other people to help care for them as they age. Caregiving has predominantly been studied through a primary caregiver lens with few studies focusing on the wider caregiving network. However, it is challenging to collect new data about family caregivers, particularly in contexts of serious illness and end of life. Selection and attrition effects, underrepresentation of marginalized or minoritized racial and ethnic groups, and low response rates can bias findings in prospective clinical research. Analyzing existing datasets, particularly population-based data (e.g., registries with linked administrative, health, and vital records) may hold promise to advance our understanding of the role families play throughout the caregiving and bereavement continuum to optimize the health and well-being of older adults. Little is known, however, about existing population-based datasets available for research on family caregiving. We conducted a scoping review of published literature and data repositories to identify datasets relevant for family caregiving research, explore the research reuse of these datasets, and describe potential validity and reliability concerns. Synthesized findings reveal: 1) methodological approaches for identifying the presence and type of caregivers and their level of engagement; 2) inclusion and measurement of key outcome variables; and 3) sampling and study design issues. We describe and compare a selection of high-value existing datasets relevant to family caregiving research. This new research information resource will advance research use of population datasets to improve care for older adults and their family caregivers across the lifespan.

Abstract Informal caregivers are frequently excluded during hospital discharge planning, potentially impacting their ability to effectively care for older adults at home. Few studies have examined experiences of spousal versus non-spousal caregivers during hospital discharge planning. In a secondary analysis of a mixed-method study, we quantitatively examined how spousal relationships impact caregivers’ (n=266; 51.8% identified as a spouse or partner) scores of patient discharge readiness using the Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale (RHDS-CG). We then conducted semi-structured interviews with a participant subset (n=23), and analyzed transcribed interviews using content analysis. First, comparing scores on the RHDS-CG, spouses/partners (88.4%) were more likely than non-spouses (75%) to report RHDS scores of 7+ corresponding with moderate to high readiness (X2 (1) = 8.070, p=.005). Among those interviewed, spouses/partners (65.2%) described their role as long-term, and shared strategies they had learned over time regarding how to seek involvement with healthcare professionals (HCPs). In contrast, non-spousal caregivers (34.8%) viewed their role as short term and struggled with how to communicate with HCPs, citing patient privacy rules and patient autonomy as perceived barriers. Overall, spousal caregivers had more experience with the healthcare system and felt better prepared to assume post-discharge care duties. Exploring the experiences of non-spousal caregivers, which make up more than one-third of our sample, is important since caregiving roles shift away from spouses to adult children and others as people age. Further consideration is necessary regarding how to support non-spousal caregivers in navigating the healthcare system.

PURPOSE:Despite recognition that unpaid (e.g., family, friends) caregivers (caregivers) play an important role in successful transitions home after hospitalization, limited information is available about whether and how caregiver experiences of discharge align with current strategies for providing high-quality discharge processes, and how these experiences at discharge impact successful transitions home. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of caregivers regarding their discharge preparation, focusing particular attention on whether and how they believed discharge preparation impacted postdischarge patient outcomes.METHODS:We conducted in-depth, case interviews with four English-speaking caregivers (61-75 years of age). Content analysis was framed by the nature of caregiver involvement proposed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ's) IDEAL (Include, Discuss, Educate, Assess, Listen) discharge planning strategy.RESULTS:Caregivers reported receiving clear discharge instructions, or basic education, and yet felt only passively included in discharge teaching. Once home, the caregivers reported gaps in their knowledge of how to care for the patient, suggesting key gaps related to knowledge of warning signs and problems. Two of the four caregiver participants attributed a hospital readmission to postdischarge knowledge gaps.CONCLUSION:The experiences of these caregivers demonstrate how their limited, passive involvement in discharge education may result in suboptimal patient outcomes after hospitalization. Our findings suggest that structured programs aimed at increasing caregiver involvement in discharge, particularly related to assessment of caregiver problem solving, planning, and postdischarge support, are important in efforts seeking to improve care transitions and postdischarge outcomes.IMPLICATIONS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT:This study assesses caregivers' experience with discharge planning and problems they encounter post-discharge, providing case managers with important information regarding the effectiveness of discharge processes. This study of caregiver experiences suggests that the IDEAL discharge planning strategy remains a useful and important framework for case managers to follow when providing discharge services.

INTRODUCTION:Multi-sector outreach collaborations have the potential to improve COVID-19 vaccine access among underserved populations, including refugees.METHODS:Using a four-pronged strategy, we offered the local refugee community COVID-19 vaccine appointments within the next week.RESULTS:Over a thousand (1,327) individuals from more than 20 countries were identified; mean age 36.5 (SD=16.4); 55% female. Initially, 613 (46%) reported being scheduled/vaccinated prior to outreach efforts; 312 (24%) appointments were scheduled that resulted from outreach efforts. By February 2022, 895 (67.4%) of the 1,327 patients had at least one dose; the majority of these were Pfizer (n=750, 84%). Of 895 with first dose, 843 completed two-dose series (94.2%). Overall completion rate of initial series was 63.5%. Reasons for declining (171, 13%) included wanting to speak with a physician or family member first; pregnancy hesitation; postponing until after Ramadan.DISCUSSION:Although lower than local and state rates, this refugee community's COVID-19 vaccine uptake is on par with the overall population in the United States (65.8%). Because of COVID-19's disproportionately negative impact on refugee and other underserved populations, we offer recommendations for future equity-informed efforts.

Cervical cancer screening (CCS) rates are lower for foreign-born women in the United States (U.S.) compared with the overall population. This study aimed to determine the CCS rate and predictors among refugees who were identified as female attending a family medicine clinic. A retrospective chart review included refugee individuals aged 21+, seen in the previous 3 years (3/23/2015–3/20/2018), without hysterectomy (n = 525). Lab results determined CCS rate. Chi-square and logistic regression models explored predictors of CCS. Overall, 60.0% were up-to-date (UTD) on CCS. Individuals aged 30–49, married, and with $$\ge$$ 1 child had higher odds of being UTD. Ten or more years living in the U.S. was a significant bivariate predictor of CCS, and approached significance in the multivariate model. This study begins to fill gaps in knowledge about cervical cancer control among individuals who resettled in the U.S. as refugees and, given that CCS rates are suboptimal, informs clinical practice improvements and directions for future research.

To fill the gap in health research capacity-building efforts, we created the 'Virtual Library' (VL) - a web-based repository of context-relevant resources for health researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper describes the participatory process used to systematically develop the VL, and describes how our interprofessional team - representing both an LMIC (Nepal) and a high-income country (HIC) (USA, US) - engaged in shared meaning-making. A team of researchers and clinicians representing a range of subdisciplines from Nepal and the US created a replicable search strategy and standardized Resource Screening Guide (RSG) to systematically assess resources to be included within the VL. Descriptive methods were used to summarize findings from the RSG and lessons learned from the collaborative process. Collectively, 14 team members reviewed 564 potential resources (mean = 40, SD = 22.7). Mean RSG score was 7.02/10 (SD = 2). More than 76% of resources met each of the four quality criteria (relevant; reputable, accessible; understandable). Within the published VL, 298 resources were included, organized by 15 topics and 45 sub-topics. Of these, 223 resources were evaluated by the RSG; 75 were identified by team member expertise. The collaborative process involved regular meetings, iterative document revisions, and peer review. Resource quality was better than expected, perhaps because best practices/principles related to health research are universally relevant, regardless of context. While the RSG was essential to systematize our search and ensure reproducibility, team member expertise was valuable. Pairing team members during peer-review led to bi-directional knowledge sharing and was particularly successful. This work reflects a highly collaborative global partnership and offers a model for future health research capacity-building efforts. We invite engagement with the Virtual Library as one supportive pillar of infrastructure to develop individual and institutional research capacity.

Purpose: Despite recognition that unpaid (e.g., family, friends) caregivers (caregivers) play an important role in successful transitions home after hospitalization, limited information is available about whether and how caregiver experiences of discharge align with current strategies for providing high-quality discharge processes, and how these experiences at discharge impact successful transitions home. The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of caregivers regarding their discharge preparation, focusing particular attention on whether and how they believed discharge preparation impacted postdischarge patient outcomes. Methods: We conducted in-depth, case interviews with four English-speaking caregivers (61–75 years of age). Content analysis was framed by the nature of caregiver involvement proposed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ's) IDEAL (Include, Discuss, Educate, Assess, Listen) discharge planning strategy. Results: Caregivers reported receiving clear discharge instructions, or basic education, and yet felt only passively included in discharge teaching. Once home, the caregivers reported gaps in their knowledge of how to care for the patient, suggesting key gaps related to knowledge of warning signs and problems. Two of the four caregiver participants attributed a hospital readmission to postdischarge knowledge gaps. Conclusion: The experiences of these caregivers demonstrate how their limited, passive involvement in discharge education may result in suboptimal patient outcomes after hospitalization. Our findings suggest that structured programs aimed at increasing caregiver involvement in discharge, particularly related to assessment of caregiver problem solving, planning, and postdischarge support, are important in efforts seeking to improve care transitions and postdischarge outcomes. Implications for Case Management: This study assesses caregivers' experience with discharge planning and problems they encounter post-discharge, providing case managers with important information regarding the effectiveness of discharge processes. This study of caregiver experiences suggests that the IDEAL discharge planning strategy remains a useful and important framework for case managers to follow when providing discharge services.

Purpose: To describe cervical cancer control practices from common countries of origin for women who resettle in the United States as refugees to highlight this persistent health inequity. Methods: Describe presence/type of national cervical cancer screening program, screening coverage percentage, and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program presence and coverage. Results: Nine of 15 included countries screen opportunistically. Most do not use high-performing tests, and estimates of screening coverage were limited. Only one country offers HPV vaccination. Conclusion: Countries of origin for refugee women may lack effective national cervical cancer control programs. To meet the World Health Organization (WHO)'s call to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, focus on culturally tailored education, and continued research are paramount.

Background Metastatic prostate cancer remains a lethal malignancy that warrants novel supportive interventions for patients and their decision partners and proxies. Decision aids have been applied primarily to patients with localized disease, with minimal inclusion of patients with advanced prostate cancer and their decision partners. The use of a community patient navigator (CPN) has been shown to have a positive supportive role in health care, particularly with individuals from minority populations. Research is needed to evaluate decision support interventions tailored to the needs of advanced prostate cancer patients and their decision partners in diverse populations. Methods Guided by Janis and Mann’s Conflict Model of Decision Making, the Cancer Health Aid to Manage Preferences and Improve Outcomes through Navigation (CHAMPION) is a randomized controlled trial to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a mobile health (mHealth), CPN-administered decision support intervention designed to facilitate communication between patients, their decision partners, and the healthcare team. Adult prostate cancer patients and their decision partners at three mid-Atlantic hospitals in the USA were randomized to receive enhanced usual care or the decision intervention. The CHAMPION intervention includes a theory-based decision-making process tutorial, immediate and health-related quality of life graphical summaries over time (using mHealth), values clarification via a balance sheet procedure with the CPN support during difficult decisions, and facilitated discussions with providers to enhance informed, shared decision-making. Discussion The CHAMPION intervention is designed to leverage dynamic resources, such as CPN teams, mHealth technology, and theory-based information, to support decision-making for advanced prostate cancer patients and their decision partners. This intervention is intended to engage decision partners in addition to patients and represents a novel, sustainable, and scalable way to build on individual and community strengths. Patients from minority populations, in particular, may face unique challenges during clinical communication. CHAMPION emphasizes the inclusion of decision partners and CPNs as facilitators to help address these barriers to care. Thus, the CHAMPION intervention has the potential to positively impact patient and decision partner well-being by reducing decisional conflict and decision regret related to complex, treatment-based decisions, and to reduce cancer health disparities. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03327103 . Registered on 31 October 2017—retrospectively registered. World Health Organization Trial Registration Data Set included in Supplementary Materials.