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Kang JA, Tark A, Estrada LV, Dhingra L, Stone PW. Timing of Goals of Care Discussions in Nursing Homes: A Systematic Review. J Am Med Dir Assoc 2023; 24:1820-1830. [PMID: 37918815 PMCID: PMC10757828 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2023.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Discussions between health professionals and nursing home (NH) residents or their families about the current or future goals of health care may be associated with better outcomes at the end of life (EOL), such as avoidance of unwanted interventions or death in hospital. The timing of these discussions varies, and it is possible that their influence on EOL outcomes depends on their timing. This study synthesized current evidence concerning the timing of goals of care (GOC) discussions in NHs and its impact on EOL outcomes. DESIGN Systematic review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Adult populations in NH settings. METHODS This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses guidelines. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health from January 2000 to September 2022. We included studies that examined timing of GOC discussions in NHs, were peer-reviewed, and published in English. Quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS Screening of 1930 abstracts yielded 149 papers that were evaluated for eligibility. Of the 18 articles, representing 16 distinct studies that met review criteria, 12 evaluated the timing of advance directives. There was variation in the timing of GOC discussions and compared with discussions that occurred within a month of death, earlier discussions (eg, at the time of facility admission) were associated with lower rates of hospitalization at the EOL and lower health care costs. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The timing of GOC discussions in NHs varies and evidence suggests that late discussions are associated with poorer EOL outcomes. The benefits of goal-concordant care may be enhanced by earlier and more frequent discussions. Future studies should examine the optimal timing for GOC discussions in the NH population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jung A Kang
- Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Aluem Tark
- Helene Fuld College of Nursing, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leah V Estrada
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lara Dhingra
- MJHS Institute for Innovation in Palliative Care, New York, NY, USA; Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
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Carr K, Hasson F, McIlfatrick S, Downing J. Parents' experiences of initiation of paediatric advance care planning discussions: a qualitative study. Eur J Pediatr 2022; 181:1185-1196. [PMID: 34783898 PMCID: PMC8897342 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-04314-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Advance care planning enables parents to discuss their goal and wishes for the future treatment and care of their life-limited or life-threatened child. Whilst research has identified the barriers clinicians face to initiate such discussions, the views of the parents have received scant attention. This qualitative study, using reflexive thematic analysis, aimed to explore parents' experience of the initiation of their child's advance care planning discussions, to help provide an understanding to inform future practice. Single interviews were undertaken with 17 non-bereaved and bereaved parents. Parents reported they had engaged with future thinking but needed time before initiating this with clinicians. They identified the need for a trusted professional and time for private, thorough, non-judgemental discussion without feeling clinicians were 'giving up'. Parents reported that advance care planning discussions were not always aligned to the dynamics of family life. They felt that health professionals were responsible for initiating advance planning conversations according to the families' individual requirements. There was an apparent lack of standardised protocols to assist paediatric advance care planning discussion initiation.Conclusion: Initiating advance care planning is a complicated process that needs to be tailored to the specific parent and child situation. Health professionals need to appreciate that parents are key contributors to initiate engagement with advance care planning discussions but that they also require support and care, recognising this may facilitate the building of trust, identified as a key corner stone, of paediatric advance care planning initiation and engagement. What is Known: • In paediatric palliative care, parents are challenged with wanting to sustain hope whilst thinking and planning for their child's end of life. Paediatric advance care planning discussions are often delayed or avoided and triggered by physical deterioration. What is New: • Previous relationship with HCP not essential but parental trust of the HCP is fundamental to Paediatric advance care planning initiation engagement. To build mutual trust health professionals' approach needs to be professional, respectful and empathetic to the parent and child's situation. • Subtle paediatric advance care planning parent initiation preparation by HCP is often unnoticed by parents but may be the crux of empowering parents to initiate advance care planning conversations themselves as they need to feel a sense of regaining control before planning ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Carr
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, School of Nursing, Ulster University, Shore Road , Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB, UK.
| | - Felicity Hasson
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, School of Nursing, Ulster University, Shore Road , Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB UK
| | - Sonja McIlfatrick
- Institute of Nursing and Health Research, School of Nursing, Ulster University, Shore Road , Newtownabbey, BT37 0QB UK
| | - Julia Downing
- International Children’s Palliative Care Network, Bristol, UK ,Makerere University Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
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Gilissen J, Pivodic L, Wendrich-van Dael A, Gastmans C, Vander Stichele R, Engels Y, Vernooij-Dassen M, Deliens L, Van den Block L. Implementing the theory-based advance care planning ACP+ programme for nursing homes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial and process evaluation. BMC Palliat Care 2020; 19:5. [PMID: 31915000 PMCID: PMC6950862 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-019-0505-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Research has highlighted the need for improving the implementation of advance care planning (ACP) in nursing homes. We developed a theory-based multicomponent ACP intervention (the ACP+ programme) aimed at supporting nursing home staff with the implementation of ACP into routine nursing home care. We describe here the protocol of a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) that aims to evaluate the effects of ACP+ on nursing home staff and volunteer level outcomes and its underlying processes of change. METHODS We will conduct a cluster RCT in Flanders, Belgium. Fourteen eligible nursing homes will be pair-matched and one from each pair will be randomised to either continue care and education as usual or to receive the ACP+ programme (a multicomponent programme which is delivered stepwise over an eight-month period with the help of an external trainer). Primary outcomes are: nursing home care staff's knowledge of, and self-efficacy regarding ACP. Secondary outcomes are: 1) nursing home care staff's attitudes towards ACP and ACP practices; 2) support staff's and volunteer's ACP practices and 3) support staff's and volunteers' self-efficacy. Measurements will be performed at baseline and eight months post-measurement, using structured self-reported questionnaires. A process evaluation will accompany the outcome evaluation in the intervention group, with measurements throughout and post-intervention to assess implementation, mechanisms of impact and context and will be carried out using a mixed-methods design. DISCUSSION There is little high-quality evidence regarding the effectiveness and underlying processes of change of ACP in nursing homes. This combined outcome and process evaluation of the ACP+ programme aims to contribute to building the necessary evidence to improve ACP and its uptake for nursing home residents and their family. TRIAL REGISTRATION The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (no. NCT03521206). Registration date: May 10, 2018. Inclusion of nursing homes started March, 2018. Hence, the trial was retrospectively registered but before end of data collection and analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joni Gilissen
- End-of-life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium. .,Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health, Global Brain Health Institute (GBHI), UCSF & Trinity College Dublin, San Francisco, CA, USA. .,Department of Family Medicine & Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Jette, Belgium.
| | - Lara Pivodic
- End-of-life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Annelien Wendrich-van Dael
- End-of-life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Chris Gastmans
- Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law, KU Leuven, Kapucijnenvoer 35 Box 7001, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Yvonne Engels
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Myrra Vernooij-Dassen
- IQ Healthcare, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Luc Deliens
- End-of-life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, De Pintelaan 185, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lieve Van den Block
- End-of-life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Family Medicine and Chronic Care, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
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Bally KW, Krones T, Jox RJ. Advance Care Planning for People with Dementia: The Role of General Practitioners. Gerontology 2019; 66:40-46. [PMID: 31212289 DOI: 10.1159/000500809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
General practitioners (GPs) play a key role in the timely diagnosis of dementia and also in advance care planning (ACP). They often have known patients and their families for decades and are familiar with their values and treatment preferences; they are, therefore, in a position to initiate the ACP process even before the appearance of the first symptoms of dementia and certainly following disclosure of the diagnosis. To do so, they should recognise whether patients are receptive to an ACP consultation or whether they might reject it for personal, social or cultural reasons. Under no circumstances should the patient or their family be coerced into making these provisions. In most countries, the current framework does not provide enough time and money for GPs to carry out actual ACP consultations completely on their own. There is evidence that specially trained health professionals are able to more effectively discuss treatment goals and limits of life-prolonging measures than GPs who are well acquainted with their patients. Consequently, we suggest that it will be the GPs' task to seize the right moment for starting an ACP process, to raise awareness of patients and their relatives about ACP, to test the patient's decision-making capacity and, finally, to involve appropriately trained healthcare professionals in the actual ACP consultation process. Care should be taken that these professionals delivering time-intensive ACP consultations are not only able to reflect on the patient's values but are also familiar with the course of the disease, the expected complications and the decisions that can be anticipated. The GP will ensure an active exchange with the ACP professional and should have access to the documentation drawn up in the ACP consultation process (treatment plan and advance directive including instructions for medical emergencies) as soon as possible. GPs as coordinators of healthcare provision should document appropriately all specialists involved in the care and ensure that treatment decisions are implemented in accordance with the patient's preferences for future care or the presumed will of the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus W Bally
- Centre for Primary Health Care, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland,
| | - Tanja Krones
- Clinical Ethics, University Hospital Zürich/Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ralf J Jox
- Palliative and Supportive Care Service, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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