An interventional study of Diagnostic Advance Care Planning Discussion and Informational Statement Only in Non-traumatic Musculoskeletal Conditions, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) and Lateral Epicondylitis, sponsored by University of Texas at Austin. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-22.
Sponsored by University of Texas at Austin · Not applicable, Interventional, and Health services research
The goal of this clinical trial is to understand how people make decisions about imaging tests for common musculoskeletal problems (like arthritis, tendon problems, or nerve compression). The study involves adult patients attending a musculoskeletal specialty clinic.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Researchers will compare patients who have a values-based discussion with a researcher to those who receive brief written information about the test, to see if these approaches affect how people feel about having the test.
Participants will:
This study does not involve actual medical testing or affect your clinical care. It is for research purposes only.
587 studies on the registry are indexed under Carpal Tunnel Syndrome; 134 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 220 is above the median of 60 across 443 interventional studies indexed under Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Browse Carpal Tunnel Syndrome studies →University of Texas at Austin is the lead sponsor of 328 studies on the registry; 79 are open to participants now.
Of its 10 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 5 (50%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants randomized to the intervention group will engage in a structured, scenario-based conversation simulating a diagnostic decision-making discussion. This conversation will be guided by a trained researcher using branching scripted prompts designed to reflect an Advance Care Planning (ACP)-style approach. The discussion will explore the participant's values, goals, and understanding of potential benefits and harms of the proposed hypothetical imaging test. No actual diagnostic tests will be ordered.
Behavioral: Diagnostic Advance Care Planning Discussion
Participants randomized to the control group will receive the same hypothetical clinical scenario, including mention of a proposed diagnostic imaging test. Instead of a structured discussion, they will be presented with a brief, standardized informational statement describing what the test involves, what it may show, and general risks or limitations. No values-based discussion or simulated conversation will occur.
Behavioral: Informational Statement Only
The intervention consists of a structured, values-based conversation modeled after Advance Care Planning (ACP) principles, adapted for diagnostic decision-making. Participants will receive a hypothetical clinical vignette involving a musculoskeletal diagnostic test (e.g., MRI, X-ray, CT, or ultrasound), followed by a simulated discussion facilitated by a trained researcher. The conversation is guided by branching scripted prompts designed to elicit the participant's values, goals, expectations, and understanding of the potential benefits and harms of testing. Responses are transcribed using verbal-to-text technology. Unlike standard decision aids or educational materials, this intervention emphasizes patient reflection and shared decision-making by prompting participants to consider what matters most to them before making a decision about the test. The discussion does not involve actual test ordering or clinical decisions but is intended to simulate a real-world ACP discussion process.
Also known as: ACP-style discussion
Participants will be presented with a brief, standardized informational statement describing what the test involves, what it may show, and general risks or limitations. No individualized values-based discussion or simulated conversation will occur.
Also known as: Control
Enthusiasm for proposed hypothetical diagnostic test
Measured using 11-point Likert scale: 0=I would definitely decline this test, 5=I am not sure if I would accept this test, 10=I would definitely proceed with this test.
Time frame: Measured using survey on tablet immediately following intervention/control (i.e., ACP-style discussion [Group 1] or informational statement [Group 2])
Decisional conflict regarding the diagnostic test
Assessed using the validated 'SURE' scale (0-4 score; higher scores indicate greater certainty and lower decisional conflict). Please refer to Appendix 2 of PDF study protocol.
Time frame: Measured using survey on tablet immediately following intervention/control (i.e., ACP-style discussion [Group 1] or informational statement [Group 2])
PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Plan to share: No
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Jan 2027, 2 months later.
Of 251 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, half reached primary completion within 12 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 7 and three quarters within 27. This study's planned 2 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 261 studies reached it within 12 months; a quarter within 7 and three quarters within 26.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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