Background Advance Care Planning (ACP) has been shown to increase prevalence of advance directives in German nursing homes (n/h) and therefore been introduced by recent legislation for n/h residents covered by sickness funds. However, clinical benefits and costs of ACP for n/h residents have not been studied in German speaking countries yet.

Methods cRCT in 4 study centres, each comprising 11 n/h (3.520 n/h residents altogether). 22 n/h will be randomised to the ACP intervention, the other half continue with usual care. The complex ACP intervention consists of comprehensive qualification of ACP facilitators and family physicians, education of all regional health care actors relevant for the care of n/h residents, and coordination within and between participating institutions.

Primary hypothesis is a reduced rate of unwanted hospital admissions. Secondary hypotheses include increased rates of residents whose preferences are known and followed in pre-defined critical treatment decisions, residents dying in the n/h (versus in hospital) according to their preference, and residents, their families, and their caregivers who appreciate congruence between treatment wanted and delivered. Additionally, we plan a comprehensive process evaluation and a health economic analysis.

Conclusion While ACP has been repeatedly shown to be clinically effective in n/h, recent data from the Netherlands indicate it may not. Our trial, funded by the Innovation Fund of the Federal Joint Commission, will provide elaborate, 8 days facilitator qualification involving 24 hours of role plays with simulated patients, and it will be the first to study hospitalisation rate in all residents of participating n/h.