Figure 1.

Adapted protocol for a randomised trial of Future Care Planning for patients with advanced heart disease: original flow diagram did not define the types of patients to be included, the threshold mortality risk for eligibility and the control group intervention. This final and agreed version identifies patients admitted to an acute cardiology ward with either acute coronary syndrome or heart failure and will be screened for eligibility—12-month mortality risk of 20% or greater at the time of discharge using the GRACE discharge score⁸ or the EFFECT score.⁷ Eligible patients need to survive to discharge and have capacity to consent for the study. Informal carers will also participate where identified by the patient. Proposed outcomes include quality of life assessed by questionnaire (EuroQoL-5D) and readmissions to hospital. Patients randomised to early intervention will be interviewed prior to discharge and those randomised to delayed intervention will receive the same interview 12 weeks following discharge. ACS, acute coronary syndrome; CHF, congestive heart failure; HF, heart failure.