Implementing a Pilot Program of Advanced Directives in Nursing Homes

<p>Advance directives are just one aspect of advance care planning. According to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, advance directives are becoming increasingly common in New Zealand. Nurses are well positioned to take on an increasing role in advance directives, particularly in view of the expected burgeoning older population to which New Zealand is no exception. The literature suggests there is a role for primary health nurses in advance directives but no literature to date is available on this role in the New Zealand context. The aim of this research was to determine primary health nurses' role in advance directives. A qualitative case study research approach was used to explore the knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and involvement of primary health nurses in advance directives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 senior primary health nurses from one New Zealand province. Two propositions informed the analysis: 1) primary health nurses currently do not have a role in advance directives; and 2) primary health nurses believe that advance directives can promote effective-end-of-life care. Watson's Theory of Human Caring was used as the theoretical framework to guide the study. Three themes were identified from the analysis: encountering challenges, facilitating patient voice, and valuing the person. The findings revealed that primary health nurses had little or no significant experience or involvement in advance directives. Participants described knowledge inconsistencies about advance directives, in particular to related legalities. Nevertheless, participants had positive attitudes towards advance directives and believed there was a role for primary health nurses in early advance directive conversations. They emphasised the importance of teamwork and envisaged their role as one of support to both the patient and doctor. Caring praxis underpinned the nurses' positive attitudes towards advance directives. These caring behaviours sustained the core values of patient autonomy and patient advocacy considered fundamental to sensitive advance directive conversations. Many challenges were identified in terms of the nurse's role in advanced directives. These included cultural considerations for Māori in order to respect The Treaty of Waitangi principles and attending to the cultural needs of the individual Pacific Island groupings. Other challenges included unclear guidelines, unclear role delineation, ethical dilemmas and fragmented or complex communication issues across the primary/secondary health sector. Results of this study may inform nurses of the need to establish nurse–patient relationships built upon trust and positive regard in order to support patients in advanced directive discussions. Implications for nurse educators include incorporating education directed at empowering nurses to participate in ethical decision making to enhance patients' end-of-life care. Given the importance of the multi-disciplinary responsibility in establishing advance directives, there is a need for further research regarding how health professionals could function together in the role of advance directive communication to best meet patients' needs.</p>

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Dialogues in Diversity: An Invited Series of Papers, Advance Directives, DNRs, and End-of-Life Care for African Americans

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.2190/8c1y-cpwa-132n-uwxy ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 52 (3) ◽

pp. 249-261 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Ronald Keith Barrett

Keyword(s):

African American ◽

African Americans ◽

End Of Life ◽

Advance Directives ◽

End Of Life Care ◽

Clinical Care ◽

Life Care ◽

Advanced Directives ◽

Culturally Sensitive Care ◽

Care Giving

The article utilizes a meta-analysis of the existing empirical research and theory on health care directives to provide some insights into the documented pattern of African Americans to use advance directives less than Whites. A number of relevant factors are highlighted and examined. In addition the article attempts to provide some insights into African American family life and traditional values regarding the care of the elderly and end-of-life care. The African American tradition of employing a family-centered decision making process during family crisis, as well as a significant cultural mistrust of institutionalized care is also explored. The article also attempts to offer some practical suggestions for clinical care givers working with African Americans to enhance culturally sensitive care giving and the utilization of advanced directives among African Americans at the end-of-life.

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Improving end of life care with advance care planning in a rural cancer center.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.e18637 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽

pp. e18637-e18637

Author(s):

Jacquelyn Barnhart ◽

Stacy Wells ◽

Tasha Harris ◽

Banu Symington

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Data Collection ◽

End Of Life ◽

Advance Directives ◽

Advance Directive ◽

End Of Life Care ◽

Cancer Center ◽

Life Care ◽

Care Costs

e18637 Background: We discovered four out of five Medical Oncology patients admitted to the hospital December 2019 and January 2020 were discharged to hospice and died within a week. None of those patients had advance directives. In November and December 2019, all oncology patient charts were reviewed and only 7% (12/174) had advance directives. We believe an established advance directive could have helped avoid unnecessary hospitalization, improved end of life care and reduced wasteful health care costs. This led to the question: Would process changes in a rural cancer center lead to an increase in completion and documentation of Advance Directives, thereby providing more patient goal congruent care? Methods: Data collection and process mapping was performed revealing current processes and overall barriers. This was analyzed and countermeasures were developed leading to process changes and interventions. The interventions included assigning dedicated staff to “own” the advance directives education, follow up and completion, training and certification of staff, and education of the entire Cancer Center on the new process and interventions. The new process included a standardized order set to cue a referral to the dedicated staff, standardized patient education and follow up and documentation consistencies. Results: The initial data collection revealed an advance directive completion rate of 7% in new oncology patients. Process inconsistencies and communication deficiencies, with redundant screening and no follow up, created significant barriers to advance directives. Repeat data collection after creating a position for dedicated staff to educate patients and help with advance directive completion revealed a completion and documentation rate of 6% and thus, was insufficient to lead to change. When a consistent process with formal communication to the dedicated staff was implemented, improvements were noted. Our most recent data collection revealed a 36% completion and documentation rate in advance directives. Conclusions: Lack of effective advance directive programs potentially lead to end of life care incongruent with patients’ wishes and wasteful of health care resources. An advance directive ensures that if a patient is unable to clearly communicate their wishes, these wishes are still honored. In addition, the advance directive can help avoid unnecessary hospitalizations, improve end of life care and reduce wasteful health care costs. As a rural cancer center with a limited service area, we are challenged with a small sample size. Practice will be needed to ensure consistency and efficacy of the current interventions in order to support continued improvement in completion and documentation rates of advance directives. This project will be expanded to address advance directives for all patients.

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Facilitating Patient Voice: A Case Study on Advance Directives and the Primary Health Nurse

10.26686/wgtn.16992976.v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Raewyn Anita Davidson

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

End Of Life ◽

Advance Directives ◽

Advance Directive ◽

End Of Life Care ◽

Life Care ◽

Primary Health ◽

Patient Voice ◽

Positive Attitudes

<p>Advance directives are just one aspect of advance care planning. According to the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, advance directives are becoming increasingly common in New Zealand. Nurses are well positioned to take on an increasing role in advance directives, particularly in view of the expected burgeoning older population to which New Zealand is no exception. The literature suggests there is a role for primary health nurses in advance directives but no literature to date is available on this role in the New Zealand context. The aim of this research was to determine primary health nurses' role in advance directives. A qualitative case study research approach was used to explore the knowledge, attitudes, experiences, and involvement of primary health nurses in advance directives. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 senior primary health nurses from one New Zealand province. Two propositions informed the analysis: 1) primary health nurses currently do not have a role in advance directives; and 2) primary health nurses believe that advance directives can promote effective-end-of-life care. Watson's Theory of Human Caring was used as the theoretical framework to guide the study. Three themes were identified from the analysis: encountering challenges, facilitating patient voice, and valuing the person. The findings revealed that primary health nurses had little or no significant experience or involvement in advance directives. Participants described knowledge inconsistencies about advance directives, in particular to related legalities. Nevertheless, participants had positive attitudes towards advance directives and believed there was a role for primary health nurses in early advance directive conversations. They emphasised the importance of teamwork and envisaged their role as one of support to both the patient and doctor. Caring praxis underpinned the nurses' positive attitudes towards advance directives. These caring behaviours sustained the core values of patient autonomy and patient advocacy considered fundamental to sensitive advance directive conversations. Many challenges were identified in terms of the nurse's role in advanced directives. These included cultural considerations for Māori in order to respect The Treaty of Waitangi principles and attending to the cultural needs of the individual Pacific Island groupings. Other challenges included unclear guidelines, unclear role delineation, ethical dilemmas and fragmented or complex communication issues across the primary/secondary health sector. Results of this study may inform nurses of the need to establish nurse–patient relationships built upon trust and positive regard in order to support patients in advanced directive discussions. Implications for nurse educators include incorporating education directed at empowering nurses to participate in ethical decision making to enhance patients' end-of-life care. Given the importance of the multi-disciplinary responsibility in establishing advance directives, there is a need for further research regarding how health professionals could function together in the role of advance directive communication to best meet patients' needs.</p>

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Assessment of Knowledge and Preferences Regarding Advance Directives Among Patients in University Family Medicine Outpatient Clinics

Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine ◽

10.1177/2333721420901902 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. 233372142090190

Author(s):

Ismet Koşar ◽

Melahat Akdeniz ◽

Ethem Kavukcu ◽

Hasan Huseyin Avci

Keyword(s):

Family Medicine ◽

End Of Life ◽

Advance Directives ◽

End Of Life Care ◽

Outpatient Clinics ◽

Life Care ◽

Advanced Directives ◽

Face To Face ◽

Care Family ◽

Life Sustaining Treatment

Aim: The aim of this study is to draw attention to the subject of “advanced directives,” to create awareness, whether or not they want to investigate to determine the preferences for medical care and applications in the period of end-of-life while individuals can specify their preferences and wishes for medical decisions and take steps for it. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out on individuals aged 20 years and older in family medicine outpatient clinics. A questionnaire consisting of 30 questions was applied to 300 people who volunteered to participate in the study by a face-to-face interview. Results: Of all participants, 70% had not heard of advance directives (ADs) before this survey. Three quarters of participants thought that advanced directives were necessary. The rate of requesting cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to prolong survival in the case of end-of-life care was 55%; the rate of requesting the continuation of life-sustaining treatment was 24%. Conclusion: Most participants want their own decision to be taken into account in end-of-life care. Family physicians should talk to their patients about ADs via effective communication when people are still healthy.

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Effect of the Contents in Advance Directives on Individuals’ Decision-Making

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.1177/0030222818782344 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 81 (3) ◽

pp. 436-453

Author(s):

Jae Yoon Park ◽

Chi-Yeon Lim ◽

Gloria Puurveen ◽

Do Yeun Kim ◽

Jae Hang Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

End Of Life ◽

Advance Directives ◽

Advance Directive ◽

End Of Life Care ◽

Life Care ◽

Specific Content ◽

Reference Form ◽

To Receive ◽

Negative Form

Completing an advance directive offers individuals the opportunity to make informed choices about end-of-life care. However, these decisions could be influenced in different ways depending on how the information is presented. We randomly presented 185 participants with four distinct types of advance directive: neutrally framed (as reference), negatively framed, religiously framed, and a combination. Participants were asked which interventions they would like to receive at the end of life. Between 60% and 70% of participants responded “accept the special interventions” on the reference form. However, the majority (70%–90%) chose “refuse the interventions” on the negative form. With respect to the religious form, 70% to 80% chose “not decided yet.” Participants who refused special life-sustaining treatments were older, female, and with better prior knowledge about advance directives. Our findings imply that the specific content of advance directives could affect decision-making with regard to various interventions for end-of-life care.

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Advance care planning preferences in Chinese nursing home residents: results from two cross-sectional studies in Hong Kong and Taiwan

BMC Palliative Care ◽

10.1186/s12904-021-00820-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Xinyi Xu ◽

Shu-Wen Tu ◽

Chia-Chin Lin

Keyword(s):

Hong Kong ◽

Nursing Home ◽

End Of Life ◽

Advance Directive ◽

End Of Life Care ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Completion Rate ◽

Life Care ◽

Term Care

Abstract Background The proportion of hospital deaths has declined in the past few decades, while the proportions of nursing home deaths have increased. This trend of increasing deaths in long-term care facilities underlines the importance of improving end-of-life care provisions in these settings to meet individual preferences and needs. Under these circumstances, a comprehensive understanding of end-of-life care preferences in local nursing home residents can help healthcare professionals and policymakers develop strategies to increase the advance directive completion rate and quality of care. This study aimed to explore and compare advance directive and end-of-life care preferences of nursing home residents in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Methods A structured questionnaire was developed by the research team to investigate advance directive and end-of-life care preferences in older Chinese nursing home residents. Nursing home residents with frail or pre-frail status and over the age of 64 were invited to participate in the study, and information on demographics, functional status, advance directive experiences, and end-of-life care expectations was collected through questionnaire interviews. Results A total of 325 eligible participants from 32 facilities completed the survey, including 238 older residents in Hong Kong and 87 in Taiwan. A significantly lower proportion of the Hong Kong residents had completed an advance directive compared with the Taiwanese (3 vs. 13%, p = 0.001). Among participants who did not have an advance directive, 46% of the Taiwanese participants said they would consider completing one in the future, compared with 20% of the Hong Kong participants (p < 0.001). A total of 79% of the Hong Kong participants and 80% of the Taiwanese participants responded that prolonging life in the given hypothetical dying scenario was “not important” (p = 0.76). Only 14% of participants in Hong Kong and 18% of participants in Taiwan reported prior occurrence of end-of-life care discussions with family members or health professionals (p = 0.37). Conclusions This paper adds evidence in support of improving end-of-life communication and the advance directive completion rate in nursing homes in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Further research is necessary to explore cross-cultural differences in end-of-life preferences and its applications in predicting decision-making and the quality of end-of-life care.

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An Individual Housing-Based Socioeconomic Status Measure Predicts Advance Care Planning and Nursing Home Utilization

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® ◽

10.1177/1049909118812431 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 36 (5) ◽

pp. 362-369 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Amelia Barwise ◽

Young J. Juhn ◽

Chung-Il Wi ◽

Paul Novotny ◽

Carolina Jaramillo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Socioeconomic Status ◽

End Of Life ◽

Advance Directives ◽

End Of Life Care ◽

Composite Index ◽

Life Care ◽

Individual Housing ◽

Lower Likelihood ◽

Multiple Variables

Background: Socioeconomic status (SES) is an important determinant of disparities in health care and may play a role in end-of-life care and decision-making. The SES is difficult to retrospectively abstract from current electronic medical records and data sets. Objective: Using a validated SES measuring tool derived from home address, the HOUsing-based SocioEconomic Status index, termed HOUSES we wanted to determine whether SES is associated with differences in end-of-life care and decision-making. Design/Setting/Participants: This cross-sectional study utilized a cohort of Olmsted County adult residents admitted to 7 intensive care units (ICUs) at Mayo Rochester between June 1, 2011, and May 31, 2014. Measurements: Multiple variables that reflect decision-making and care at end of life and during critical illness were evaluated, including presence of advance directives and discharge disposition. The SES was measured by individual housing-based SES index (HOUSES index; a composite index derived from real property as a standardized z-score) at the date of admission to the ICU which was then divided into 4 quartiles. The greater HOUSES, the higher SES, outcomes were adjusted for age, 24-hour Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation III score, sex, race/ethnicity, and insurance. Results: Among the eligible 4134 participants, the addresses of 3393 (82%) were successfully geocoded and formulated into HOUSES. The adjusted odds ratios comparing HOUSES 1 versus 2, 3, and 4 demonstrated lower likelihood of advance directives −0.77(95% CI: 0.63-0.93) and lower likelihood of discharge to home −0.60(95% CI: 1.0.5-0.72). Conclusion: Lower SES, derived from a composite index of housing attributes, was associated with lower rates of advance directives and lower likelihood of discharge to home.

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