RecruitingNAINTERVENTIONAL

LLM-Generated Plain-Language Patient Synopses to Improve Comprehension in Hematology and Oncology (oncOPAL)

This study wants to see if using an artificial intelligence (AI) system to make medical letters easier to understand helps patients with blood or other cancers. When you leave the hospital, you get a letter about your diagnosis, treatment, and what to do next. These letters can be hard to understand because they use technical words. This study will use an AI to rewrite parts of these letters in simpler language, and a doctor will check it. Some patients will get both the standard letter and the simplified one, while others only get the standard version. A separate group who don't speak good German will get a translated, simplified letter. Afterwards, everyone answers questions about how well they understood things.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Phase

Sponsor

Technical University of Munich

Enrolment target

150

Start

01 Apr 2026

Estimated completion

01 Apr 2027

Hematologic Neoplasms Oncologic Disorders

What is this study about?

When you're a patient in hospital, especially if you have cancer or a blood condition, you get a lot of information. When you leave, you receive a discharge letter summing up everything – your diagnosis, the treatment you've had, and what your next steps are. However, these letters often use very medical language that can be difficult for many people to fully understand, even though it's important for them to know.

This study is looking into whether using a special computer programme, called an AI (artificial intelligence), can help. This AI is designed to take the complicated parts of your discharge letter and rewrite them into simpler, everyday language. A doctor will always check this simplified version to make sure it's correct before it's given to you. This is happening at a specific hospital in Munich, Germany, and the aim is to find out if understanding your medical information better can make a real difference for patients.

To see if this works, patients taking part will be put into different groups by chance. Some will get the typical medical letter, while others will get both the typical letter and the new, AI-simplified version. There's also a group for patients who don't speak good German, who will get a simplified and translated letter. Everyone will then be asked a few questions about how clearly they understood the information they received, to help the researchers see if the AI-simplified letters are truly more helpful.

Key takeaways

This study uses AI to make hospital discharge letters easier to read.
It aims to help cancer patients better understand their medical information.
You might receive a standard letter, or a standard letter plus a simplified one.
Your feedback on understanding is important for the study.
Participation is simple: read letters and answer a short survey.
Your medical care is not affected by taking part.

Who may be eligible?

To take part in this study, you need to be at least 18 years old. You must also be an inpatient at the Department of Medicine III (which deals with blood disorders like leukaemia and other cancers) at the TUM University Hospital in Munich, Germany. You would need to be getting a discharge letter as part of your usual care, which includes specific sections like your current health, medical history, a summary of your hospital stay, and what to do next.

It's important that you're able to understand what the study involves and agree to take part freely. If you have severe memory problems or conditions that make it hard to understand things, you wouldn't be able to join. Also, if you're already in another study that might affect how we measure your understanding, or if you simply don't want to participate, then you won't be included.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you 18 years old or older?
Are you a patient in the blood and cancer department at TUM University Hospital in Munich, Germany?
Are you about to receive a hospital discharge letter?
Can you understand what the study involves and agree to take part?
Do you not have severe memory problems or conditions that affect understanding?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

If you decide to take part, you'll be randomly assigned to one of two main groups. One group will get the standard medical discharge letter you would normally receive. The other group will get both the standard letter AND a new, simpler version created by an AI, which has been checked by a doctor. If you don't speak German well, you might be in a separate group that gets a simplified and translated letter.

After reading your letter(s), you'll be asked to fill out a short questionnaire. This questionnaire will ask you about how well you understood the information in your letter, including your diagnosis, treatment, and what you need to do next. The researchers will also ask about how satisfied you were and if the information helped reduce any worries you had. There are no extra hospital visits or medications involved specifically for this study. Your participation will mainly involve reading the letters and completing the questionnaire, which should not take too much of your time. The total involvement for this study will be limited to your hospital discharge process.

Potential risks and benefits

A potential benefit of joining this study is that you might receive a version of your discharge letter that is much easier to understand, which could help you feel more informed and prepared for your next steps. There's also a chance your feedback could help improve how medical information is given to patients in the future. As for risks, there are very few, as this study mainly involves reading information and answering questions. Your personal information will be kept private. You are free to change your mind and withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without it affecting your medical care.

Locations (1)

Technical University Munich
Verified postcode
Munich, Germany· Recruiting

Common questions

What is AI?

AI stands for Artificial Intelligence. In this study, it's a computer programme designed to understand and rewrite complicated medical text into simpler language.

Will my doctor still explain things to me?

Yes, this study is about simplifying your written discharge letter. Your doctor will still provide the usual explanations and care.

Is my information safe with the AI?

Yes, the AI system used in this study runs on the hospital's own secure computers, and your information is not shared outside the hospital.

Do I have to do anything special for this study?

No, your main involvement will be reading your discharge letter(s) and then answering a few questions about how well you understood them.

What if I get a letter that's still hard to understand?

The study is trying to see if the AI helps. If you find any letter hard to understand, you can always ask your healthcare team for clarification.

How to find out more

Krischan Braitsch, MD

krischan.braitsch@tum.de +49 089 4140 1268 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.