scholarly journals What Matters Most: ACP Evolving in Practice

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 497-497
Author(s):  
Kevin Valadares

Abstract The University of Southern Indiana (USI) GWEP uniquely embeds Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) care coordinators within primary care settings to invite the participation of aging patients in advance care planning (ACP), among other health interventions. Two subsequently developed features of the USI GWEP’s ACP initiative emerged to address the What Matters metric of the 4Ms: 1) Patients are invited to engage in What Matters Most conversations through multiple touchpoints that frame Medicare Wellness Visits with a Deaconess provider and introduce a free, online ACP platform, Prepare for Your Care. 2) Provider, patients and families are supported in having ACP conversations with the dedication of a new Advance Care Planning facilitator position. Certified in Respecting Choices and jointly funded by the GWEP and Deaconess, the ACP facilitator supports individuals in navigating these essential healthcare conversations about balancing quality care with quality of life.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 417-418
Author(s):  
Hyo Jung Lee ◽  
Giyeon Kim

Abstract Although there has been growing evidence that Advance care planning (ACP) benefits people with cognitive impairment nearing death, our understanding about this issue is still limited. This study examines whether cognitive impairment is associated with ACP engagement and end-of-life care preferences among older adults in the U.S. Using data from the 2012 National Health and Trends Study (n=1798, aged 65 to 101), we identified four levels of ACP engagement: None (28%), Informal ACP conversation only (12%), Formal ACP only (14%), and Both informal and formal ACP (46%). Older adults with None showed the highest prevalence of having cognitive impairment (17%), followed by those with Formal ACP only (15%) and the other two (6%, 6%). The results of Multinomial Logistic Regression showed that, compared to those without, respondents with cognitive impairment had 143% increased relative risk of having None (RR = 2.43, CI: 1.58-3.73) and 81% increased relative risk of completing Formal ACP only (RR = 1.81, CI: 1.11-2.95) relative to completing Both informal and formal ACP. In addition, respondents with None were more likely to prefer to receive all treatments available nearing death than those with any ACP engagement. Achieving high quality care at the end of life can be more challenging for older adults with cognitive impairment and their family caregivers due to the limited capacity. Although encouraged, informal ACP conversation with loved ones does not necessarily occur before the formal ACP, especially, for those with cognitive impairment. Therefore, they may merit more attention such as early ACP engagement.


Author(s):  
Lente L. Kroon ◽  
◽  
Janneke van Roij ◽  
Ida J. Korfage ◽  
An K. L. Reyners ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Advance Care Planning (ACP) is positively associated with the quality of care, but its impact on emotional functioning is ambiguous. This study investigated the association between perceptions of ACP involvement and emotional functioning in patients with advanced cancer. Methods This study analyzed baseline data of 1,001 patients of the eQuiPe study, a prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, observational study on quality of care and quality of life in patients with advanced cancer in the Netherlands. Patients with metastatic solid cancer were asked to participate between November 2017 and January 2020. Patients’ perceptions of ACP involvement were measured by three self-administered statements. Emotional functioning was measured by the EORTC-QLQ-C30. A linear multivariable regression analysis was performed while taking gender, age, migrant background, education, marital status, and symptom burden into account. Results The majority of patients (87%) reported that they were as much involved as they wanted to be in decisions about their future medical treatment and care. Most patients felt that their relatives (81%) and physicians (75%) were familiar with their preferences for future medical treatment and care. A positive association was found between patients’ perceptions of ACP involvement and their emotional functioning (b=0.162, p<0.001, 95%CI[0.095;0.229]) while controlling for relevant confounders. Conclusions Perceptions of involvement in ACP are positively associated with emotional functioning in patients with advanced cancer. Future studies are needed to further investigate the effect of ACP on emotional functioning. Trial registration number NTR6584 Date of registration: 30 June 2017 Implications for Cancer Survivors Patients’ emotional functioning might improve from routine discussions regarding goals of future care. Therefore, integration of ACP into palliative might be promising.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (S1) ◽  
pp. S-72-S-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne M. Walling ◽  
Rebecca L. Sudore ◽  
Doug Bell ◽  
Chi-Hong Tseng ◽  
Christine Ritchie ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 1166-1175 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romy Van Rickstal ◽  
Aline De Vleminck ◽  
Melissa D Aldridge ◽  
Sean R Morrison ◽  
Raymond T Koopmans ◽  
...  

Background: The significance of advance care planning in dementia is widely acknowledged. Despite the suggestion that younger people with dementia and their family might have distinct needs and preferences in this area, studies on advance care planning in young-onset dementia are absent. Aim: We aim to explore (1) whether family caregivers had already engaged in advance care planning with patients and/ or professionals and the accompanying reasons and (2) family caregivers’ preferences for how to ideally engage in the process with patients, family and professionals. Design: A qualitative study was conducted: we analysed semi-structured interviews ( n = 15) through the method of constant comparative analysis. Setting/participants: We included Flemish family caregivers of persons with young-onset dementia. Results: Plans for the future typically concerned non-medical affairs. Participants’ limited engagement in advance care planning was clarified through several reasons: not considering it useful, hindering patient behaviour, adopting a day-to-day attitude, caregivers emotionally protecting themselves and uncertainty about patients’ cognitive competence. However, endorsement for advance care planning showed from respondents’ preferences that it should be initiated timely, by a third party, and emphasize patients’ remaining capacities. Finally, the need for information and high-quality care emerged. Conclusion: A gap of knowledge, of information and in care intertwiningly hinder advance care planning. In young-onset dementia, engaging in advance care planning is not an option equally accessible as not doing so. Policy makers, institutions and professionals could reflect on their responsibility in providing these patients and caregivers an actual choice to engage in advance care planning or not.


2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 2012-2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsbeth Voogt ◽  
Agnes van der Heide ◽  
Judith A.C. Rietjens ◽  
Anna F. van Leeuwen ◽  
Adriaan P. Visser ◽  
...  

Purpose When cancer has advanced to a stage in which cure becomes unlikely, patients may have to consider the aim of further treatment. We studied the relationship of patients' attitudes toward treatment with advance care planning and the development of these attitudes after diagnosis of incurable cancer. Patients and Methods Patients with incurable cancer were interviewed and asked to fill out a written questionnaire about their attitudes concerning life-prolonging treatment and end-of-life decision making. These questions were repeated after 6 and 12 months. Results One hundred twenty-two patients (mean age, 64 years; standard deviation, 10.5 years; 53% women) participated in the study. Patients' attitudes toward treatment could be categorized into the following three different profiles: striving for quality of life, striving for length of life, and no clear preference. Patients who were older, more tired, or had less positive feelings and patients who had more often taken initiatives to engage in advance care planning were more inclined to strive for quality of life than others. Patients with a history of cancer of less than 6 months were more inclined to prefer life prolongation than patients with a longer history of cancer. During follow-up, no changes in attitudes toward treatment were found, except for patients with a short history of cancer in whom the inclination to strive for length decreased. Conclusion Patients who appreciate advance care planning were more inclined to strive for quality of life than other patients. Shortly after the diagnosis of cancer, patients typically seem to prefer life-prolonging treatment, whereas quality of life becomes more important when death is nearing.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 519-524
Author(s):  
Jolien J Glaudemans ◽  
Dick L Willems ◽  
Jan Wind ◽  
Bregje D Onwuteaka Philipsen

Abstract Background Using advance care planning (ACP) to anticipate future decisions can increase compliance with people’s end-of-life wishes, decrease inappropriate life-sustaining treatment and reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Despite this, only a minority of older people engage in ACP, partly because care professionals lack knowledge of approaches towards ACP with older people and their families. Objective To explore older people’s and their families’ experiences with ACP in primary care. Methods We conducted qualitative, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with 22 older people (aged &gt;70 years, v/m: 11/11), with experience in ACP, and eight of their family members (aged 40–79 years, f/m: 7/1). Transcripts were inductively analysed using a grounded theory approach. Results We distinguished three main themes. (i) Openness and trust: Respondents were more open to ACP if they wanted to prevent specific future situations and less open if they lacked trust or had negative thoughts regarding general practitioners’ (GPs’) time for and interest in ACP. Engaging in ACP appeared to increase trust. (ii) Timing and topics: ACP was not initiated too early. Quality of ACP seemed to improve if respondents’ views on their current life and future, a few specific future care scenarios and expectations and responsibilities regarding ACP were discussed. (iii) Roles of family: Quality of ACP appeared to improve if family was involved in ACP. Conclusions Quality and accessibility of ACP may improve if GPs and nurses involve family, explain GPs’ interest in ACP and discuss future situations older people may want to prevent, and views on their current life and future.


2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 874-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Schichtel ◽  
Bee Wee ◽  
Rafael Perera ◽  
Igho Onakpoya

Abstract Background Advance care planning is widely advocated to improve outcomes in end-of-life care for patients suffering from heart failure. But until now, there has been no systematic evaluation of the impact of advance care planning (ACP) on clinical outcomes. Our aim was to determine the effect of ACP in heart failure through a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods We searched CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Database of Systematic Reviews, Embase, ERIC, Ovid MEDLINE, Science Citation Index and PsycINFO (inception to July 2018). We selected RCTs including adult patients with heart failure treated in a hospital, hospice or community setting. Three reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, assessed the risk of bias (Cochrane risk of bias tool) and evaluated the quality of evidence (GRADE tool) and analysed interventions according to the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR). We calculated standardized mean differences (SMD) in random effects models for pooled effects using the generic inverse variance method. Results Fourteen RCTs including 2924 participants met all of the inclusion criteria. There was a moderate effect in favour of ACP for quality of life (SMD, 0.38; 95% CI [0.09 to 0.68]), patients’ satisfaction with end-of-life care (SMD, 0.39; 95% CI [0.14 to 0.64]) and the quality of end-of-life communication (SMD, 0.29; 95% CI [0.17 to 0.42]) for patients suffering from heart failure. ACP seemed most effective if it was introduced at significant milestones in a patient’s disease trajectory, included family members, involved follow-up appointments and considered ethnic preferences. Several sensitivity analyses confirmed the statistically significant direction of effect. Heterogeneity was mainly due to different study settings, length of follow-up periods and compositions of ACP. Conclusions ACP improved quality of life, patient satisfaction with end-of-life care and the quality of end-of-life communication for patients suffering from heart failure and could be most effective when the right timing, follow-up and involvement of important others was considered.


2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. e44-e51
Author(s):  
Cameron Kiersch ◽  
Teddie Potter

The complexities surrounding the dying process may distort rational decision-making and impact care at the end of life. Advance care planning, which focuses on identifying the individual's definition of quality of life, holds great potential to provide clarity at the end of life. Currently, young adults are not the intended audience for advance care planning. A quality improvement project engaged 36 college-age adults in structured group advance care planning discussions and evaluated the perceived value of a self-recorded advance directive. Findings from a pre- and postintervention survey suggested that young adults welcomed a conversation about end-of-life care; they wished for more information and expressed that a video-recorded advance directive stimulated thoughts about their own definition of quality of life. Participants' improved self-perception of comfort, confidence, certainty, and knowledge regarding the advance care planning process and end-of-life care indicated young adults may be a willing and eager population for the expansion of advance care planning. In addition to directing advance care planning to a younger audience, a personal video-recorded advance directive may complement the current advance care planning process and aid individuals in defining their quality of life.


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