What the trial was testing
The ED GOAL enrolled 141 patients with copd. The study was sponsored by Brigham and Women's Hospital and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.
What the results showed
Doctors documented end-of-life wishes for 31% of patients who had nurse-led conversations versus 13% who didn't.
JAMA network open · 2025 · NCT05209880
These findings — that doctors were more than twice as likely to record patients' end-of-life preferences after nurse-led conversations — were published in the JAMA network open and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 141 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with copd, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This study tested a conversation program, not a treatment. If you have a serious illness like advanced cancer or COPD, the emergency department can be a good place to start conversations about your care wishes. Ask your doctor or nurse if they offer similar programs to help you plan ahead.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open copd trials
Multiparametric Home Telemonitoring of Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbation
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are risk factors for disease progression and short-term re- hospitalizations. We propose a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of a one-device multiparameter telemonitoring in reducing functional decline, symptoms, and risk of re-hospitalization of patients discharged after hospitalization for exacerbated COPD.
Standard vs Targeted Oxygen Therapy Prehospital for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
The STOP-COPD trial is a randomized, patient-blinded, prehospital clinical trial designed to evaluate the effect of titrated oxygen therapy compared to standard oxygen treatment in patients with suspected acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) treated with inhaled bronchodilators. The primary objective is to determine whether a titrated oxygen strategy targeting SpO₂ 88-92% can reduce 30-day mortality compared to the current standard practice using 100% compressed oxygen as a nebulizer driver.