CHElsea II Trial (Scotland AWI)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A Cluster Randomised Trial of Clinically Assisted Hydration in Patients in the Last Days of Life
IRAS ID
317637
Contact name
Andrew Davies
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN65858561
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Clinically assisted hydration at the end of life is much debated by healthcare professionals (HCP), it is also a debate
that has moved into the public domain, which has caused much contention and anxiety for the dying patient,
relatives and Health Care Professionals. The reason for the debate, contention and anxiety, is there is a lack of good
quality research, which provides the evidence that guides end of life practice. The CHELsea II trial aims to provide
robust data to enable new guidance on the use of assisted hydration in this patient group. The CHELsea II trial is a
cluster randomised trial (sites randomised rather than participants) comparing the standard mouthcare with Clinically
Assisted Hydration (CAH) versus the standard of mouthcare only in patients who are in the last days of life.
Delirium can be one of the most distressing aspects of end of life and the CHELsea II trial will uniquely address the
specific issue of the use of CAH at the end-of-life and to use an evidence based approach to create a pathway for the
majority of end of life patients and to asses the reduction of delirium utilising CAH in this group of patients.REC name
Scotland A: Adults with Incapacity only
REC reference
22/SS/0053
Date of REC Opinion
9 Sep 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion