Background In the health care setting, electronic health records (EHRs) are one of the primary modes of communication about patients, but most of this information is clinician centered. There is a need to consider the patient as a person and integrate their perspectives into their health record. Incorporating a patient’s narrative into the EHR provides an opportunity to communicate patients’ cultural values and beliefs to the health care team and has the potential to improve patient-clinician communication. This paper describes the protocol to evaluate the integration of an adapted person-centered narrative intervention (PCNI). This adaptation builds on our previous research centered on the implementation of PCNIs. The adaptation for this study includes an all-electronic delivery of a PCNI in an outpatient clinical setting. Objective This research protocol aims to evaluate the feasibility, usability, and effects of the all-electronic delivery of a PCNI in an outpatient setting on patient-reported outcomes. The first objective of this study is to identify the barriers and facilitators of an internet-based–delivered PCNI from the perspectives of persons living with serious illness and their clinicians. The second objective is to conduct acceptability, usability, and intervention fidelity testing to determine the essential requirements for the EHR integration of an internet-based–delivered PCNI. The third objective is to test the feasibility of the PCNI in an outpatient clinic setting. Methods Using a mixed method design, this single-arm intervention feasibility study was delivered over approximately 3 to 4 weeks. Patient participant recruitment was conducted via screening outpatient palliative care clinic schedules weekly for upcoming new palliative care patient visits and then emailing potential patient participants to notify them about the study. The PCNI was delivered via email and Zoom app. Patient-reported outcome measures were completed by patient participants at baseline, 24 to 48 hours after PCNI, and after the initial palliative care clinic visit, approximately 1 month after baseline. Inclusion criteria included having the capacity to give consent and having an upcoming initial outpatient palliative care clinic visit. Results The recruitment of participants began in April 2021. A total of 189 potential patient participants were approached via email, and 20 patient participants were enrolled, with data having been collected from May 2021 to September 2022. A total of 7 clinician participants were enrolled, with a total of 3 clinician exit interviews and 1 focus group (n=5), which was conducted in October 2022. Data analysis is expected to be completed by the end of June 2023. Conclusions The findings from this study, combined with those from other PCNI studies conducted in acute care settings, have the potential to influence clinical practices and policies and provide innovative avenues to integrate more person-centered care delivery. International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/41787

BACKGROUND In the health care setting, the electronic health record (EHR) is one of the primary modes of communication about patients, but most of this information is provider-centered. There is a need to integrate more of the patient as person into the patient’s health record. Incorporating a patient’s narrative into the EHR provides an opportunity to communicate patients’ cultural values/beliefs to the healthcare team and has the potential to improve patient-clinician communication. OBJECTIVE This research protocol aims to evaluate the feasibility, usability and effects on patient-reported outcomes of an all virtually delivered person-centered narrative intervention in an outpatient setting. METHODS Using a mixed method design, this single arm intervention feasibility study is delivered over approximately 1-2 weeks. The person-centered narrative intervention (PCNI) is delivered via e-mail contact and zoom. Patient reported outcome measures are completed by patient participants at baseline, 24-48 hours after PCNI, and after the initial palliative care clinic visit, approximately 1 month after baseline. Inclusion criteria includes capacity to consent and having an upcoming initial outpatient palliative care clinic visit. RESULTS The recruitment of participants began in April 2021. Patient participant recruitment is being conducted via screening outpatient palliative care clinic schedules weekly for upcoming new palliative care patient visits, and e-mails sent to potential patient participants of their eligibility to enroll in study. Data collection and data analysis is expected to conclude by end of 2023. CONCLUSIONS If proven feasible, the use of PCNI could provide care delivery, in an outpatient setting, that is more person-centered, even when the PCNI is delivered in all electronic delivery. The findings from this study, joined with findings from other PCNI intervention studies conducted in acute care settings, have the potential to influence clinical practices and policies providing innovative avenues to integrate more person-centered care delivery. CLINICALTRIAL N/A