Empowering Monterey Bay Residents for Activated, Collaborative, and Equitable Care

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.

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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 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

Exclusion Criteria:

- Patients unable to respond to survey questions in either English or Spanish.