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Wilkin K, Fang ML, Sixsmith J. Implementing advance care planning in palliative and end of life care: a scoping review of community nursing perspectives. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:294. [PMID: 38549045 PMCID: PMC10976700 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-04888-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Advance care planninganning (ACP) is a priority within palliative care service provision. Nurses working in the community occupy an opportune role to engage with families and patients in ACP. Carers and family members of palliative patients often find ACP discussions difficult to initiate. However, community nurses caring for palliative patients can encourage these discussions, utilising the rapport and relationships they have already built with patients and families. Despite this potential, implementation barriers and facilitators continue to exist. To date, no research synthesis has captured the challenges community nurses face when implementing ACP, nor the facilitators of community nurse-led ACP. Considering this, the review question of: 'What factors contribute to or hinder ACP discussion for nurses when providing care to palliative patients?' was explored. METHOD To capture challenges and facilitators, a global qualitative scoping review was undertaken in June 2023. The Arksey and O'Malley framework for scoping reviews guided the review methodology. Six databases were searched identifying 333 records: CINAHL (16), MEDLINE (45), PUBMED (195), EMBASE (30), BJOCN (15), IJOPN (32). After de-duplication and title and abstract screening, 108 records remained. These were downloaded, hand searched (adding 5 articles) and subject to a full read. 98 were rejected, leaving a selected dataset of 15 articles. Data extracted into a data extraction chart were thematically analysed. RESULTS Three key themes were generated: 'Barriers to ACP', 'Facilitators of ACP' and 'Understanding of professional role and duty'. Key barriers were - lack of confidence, competence, role ambiguity and prognostic uncertainty. Key facilitators concerned the pertinence of the patient-practitioner relationship enabling ACP amongst nurses who had both competence and experience in ACP and/or palliative care (e.g., palliative care training). Lastly, nurses understood ACP to be part of their role, however, met challenges understanding the law surrounding this and its application processes. CONCLUSIONS This review suggests that community nurses' experience and competence are associated with the effective implementation of ACP with palliative patients. Future research is needed to develop interventions to promote ACP uptake in community settings, enable confidence building for community nurses and support higher standards of palliative care via the implementation of ACP.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mei Lan Fang
- School of Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland
- Urban Studies and Department of Gerontology, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Judith Sixsmith
- School of Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland.
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Vemuri S, Hynson J, Williams K, O'Neill J, Gillam L. Shepherding parents to prepare for end-of-life decision-making: a critical phenomenological study of the communication approach of paediatricians caring for children with life-limiting conditions in Australia. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e075740. [PMID: 38159953 PMCID: PMC10759114 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-075740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Shared decision-making is widely accepted as the best approach for end-of-life decision-making for children with life-limiting conditions. Both paediatricians and parents find benefit in preparing for such decisions. However, little detail is known about this preparatory process. This study aims to explore how paediatricians prepare parents for end-of-life decision-making for a child with a life-limiting condition using clinical simulation. DESIGN Individual, semistructured, post-simulation qualitative interviews of paediatricians and parent-actors. SETTING Acute intensive and long-term outpatient paediatric care in Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS 18 purposively sampled paediatricians who treat children with life-limiting conditions and the two parent-actors involved in all simulations. Paediatricians were excluded if they assisted in the study design, worked within specialist palliative care teams or did not provide clinical care outside the neonatal period. RESULTS Three key themes in a preparatory process (termed 'shepherding') were identified: (1) paediatricians aim to lead parents along a pathway to future end-of-life decisions, (2) paediatricians prefer to control the pace of these discussions and (3) paediatricians recognise they need to have courage to face risk with this preparation. Paediatricians use a variety of shepherding strategies to influence the pace, content and framing of discussions, which may help prepare parents to make the best end-of-life treatment decisions when the time comes. CONCLUSIONS Shepherding is a newly identified, subtle process intended to influence parents by guiding their understanding of their child's health and potential suffering in advance of decision-making. Shepherding does not fit within current descriptions of physicians' decision-making influence. Paced reflection, thinking and provision of information are shepherding strategies preferred by paediatricians, and these appear the same regardless of whether paediatricians intend to steer parents towards particular treatment decisions or simply prepare them for the process of decision-making. Further study about the intention of this influence and parental perception of this communication is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidharth Vemuri
- Victorian Paediatric Palliative Care Program, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jenny Hynson
- Victorian Paediatric Palliative Care Program, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katrina Williams
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jenny O'Neill
- Children's Bioethics Centre, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lynn Gillam
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Children's Bioethics Centre, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Vemuri S, Hynson J, Williams K, Gillam L. Navigating two 'truths': a qualitative study of physician-led end-of-life decision-making for children with life-limiting conditions. Arch Dis Child 2023; 108:725-729. [PMID: 37188494 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-324963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe how paediatricians undertake the process of end-of-life decision-making for a child with a life-limiting condition who is unable to participate in decision-making for themselves. DESIGN A qualitative phenomenological study using semistructured interviews based around a clinical vignette matched to the clinical practice of individual paediatricians. Verbatim transcripts underwent thematic analysis. SETTING Paediatricians practising in Victoria (Australia) between mid-2019 and mid-2020. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-five purposively sampled paediatricians caring for children with specific life-limiting conditions: children with severe neurodisability, oncological or haematological malignancies or complex cardiac disease in an inpatient intensive care or outpatient clinic setting. RESULTS A process of physician-led end-of-life decision-making was described. Paediatricians first contemplate that the child's death is approaching, then prepare themselves by ensuring there are no reversible factors at play. They then inform parents of this view and, if needed, hold discordant views between parents and themselves about the child's death in a 'fruitful tension'. Ultimately, they seek to bring parents' views of their child in line with theirs to facilitate goal alignment. CONCLUSIONS Paediatricians feel responsible for facilitating the alignment of parental understanding of the child's health status with their own. This is achieved either through direction or by holding differences between parental and medical truths about the child's health in tension to provide time, space, and clarity. This alignment was seen as key to enabling end-of-life treatment decisions, without which conflict in end-of-life decision-making can arise or persist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidharth Vemuri
- Victorian Paediatric Palliative Care Program, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jenny Hynson
- Victorian Paediatric Palliative Care Program, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Katrina Williams
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lynn Gillam
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Neurodisability and Rehabilitation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Children's Bioethics Centre, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Sansom-Daly UM, Zhang M, Evans HE, McLoone J, Wiener L, Cohn RJ, Anazodo A, Patterson P, Wakefield CE. Adapting the Voicing My CHOiCES Advance Care Planning Communication Guide for Australian Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer: Appropriateness, Acceptability, and Considerations for Clinical Practice. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:2129. [PMID: 37046790 PMCID: PMC10093261 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with life-threatening illnesses need support to discuss and voice their end-of-life choices. Voicing My CHOiCES (VMC) is a research-informed American advanced care planning guide designed to help facilitate these difficult discussions. This multi-perspective study aimed to evaluate its appropriateness, acceptability, and clinical considerations for Australian AYAs with cancer. Procedure: Forty-three participants including AYAs who were either undergoing or recently completed cancer treatment, their parents, and multidisciplinary health professionals assessed the acceptability of each VMC section quantitatively (appropriateness-yes/no, helpfulness and whether content caused stress-1 = not at all, to 5 = very) and qualitatively (sources of stress). AYAs also assessed the benefit and burden of completing several sections of the document, to inform clinical considerations. We conducted a mixed-methods analysis to obtain descriptive statistics and to identify prominent themes. Results: In terms of acceptability, almost all participants (96%) rated VMC as appropriate overall. Perceived helpfulness to their situation (to themselves/their child/their patients), to others, and stressfulness were rated, on average, as 4.1, 4.0, and 2.7/5, respectively. Stress was attributed to individual and personal factors, as well as interpersonal worries. All sections were considered more beneficial than burdensome, except for the Spiritual Thoughts section (Section 6). Conclusions: While VMC is an acceptable advance care planning guide for AYAs with cancer, changes to the guide were suggested for the Australian context. Health professionals implementing VMC will need to address and mitigate anticipated sources of stress identified here. Future research evaluating the impact of a new culturally adapted Australian VMC guide is an important next step. Finally, the clinical implications of the present study are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ursula M. Sansom-Daly
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
- Sydney Youth Cancer Service, Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Megan Zhang
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Holly E. Evans
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Jordana McLoone
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Lori Wiener
- National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Richard J. Cohn
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Antoinette Anazodo
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Pandora Patterson
- Canteen Australia, Sydney, NSW 2042, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Claire E. Wakefield
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine & Health, Randwick Clinical Campus, Discipline of Paediatrics, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- Behavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
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