Asian patients' perspectives on advance care planning: A mixed-method systematic review and conceptual framework

Perspectives on advance care planning and related end-of-life care in people with heart failure: A Q methodology study

Negative perspectives around advance care planning (ACP) prevent people with heart failure (HF) from preparing their end-of-life (EOL) effectively. A Q methodology study was conducted to identify types of ACP perspectives in Koreans with HF. The Q sample (31 statements representing ACP perspectives) was constructed through an extensive literature review and in-depth qualitative interview. The P sample (individuals with HF) completed each grid with a statement on the Q sorting table. The data were analyzed using the PQ program. Individuals with HF have both different and common perspectives on ACP. Three types of perspectives were identified: "positive acceptance," "contemplative support," and "hesitancy in acceptance." Common perspectives across types indicated that people with HF had positive attitudes toward ACP and emphasized their autonomy in EOL decisions. Clinicians need to consider these different and common perspectives on ACP to facilitate patients' engagement and provide relevant support.

Attitudes and Perceptions on Advance Care Planning Among Chinese-Speaking Older Australians

BACKGROUND

Current literature indicates low uptake of advance care planning (ACP) among the Chinese-speaking community in Australia. To increase the uptake of ACP among the Chinese-speaking community, a better understanding of their attitudes and perceptions on end-of-life (EOL) matters, and ACP is required.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify significant events and social and cultural factors that influence participants' values and characterize the attitudes and perceptions towards ACP among older Chinese-speaking Australians.

METHODS

A qualitative study explored participants' experiences through semi-structured one-to-one interviews. The interviews were conducted in Mandarin, Cantonese or English, then translated and transcribed into English. The transcripts were coded and analysed thematically.

RESULTS

Twenty participants were recruited (14 female, six male). Participants typically reported a preference to make health-related decisions autonomously. Their perspectives were grounded in past experiences of illnesses and EOL decision-making of loved ones, personal values, and perceived needs. Family dynamics and intimacy of relationships appeared to influence the role and responsibility of family members in EOL decision-making and ACP. Most participants perceived the need to engage in ACP only when encountering significant health changes or higher care needs.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare professionals should initiate ACP discussion using culturally appropriate communication with consideration of personal values, past experiences and family dynamics. Efforts should be invested in raising public awareness of ACP within the Chinese-Australian community.

Experiences of dialogue in advance care planning educational programs

BACKGROUND

Advance care planning (ACP) is a process in which adults engage in an ongoing dialogue about future medical treatment and care. Though ACP is recommended to improve the quality of end-of-life care, the details of the dialogue experience in ACP are unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To explore participants' experiences of dialogue in an ACP educational program that encouraged them to discuss the value of a way of life.

RESEARCH DESIGN

This qualitative descriptive study used the focus group interview method. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

PARTICIPANTS AND RESEARCH CONTEXT

A dialogue-based ACP educational program was conducted in four regions in Japan for local citizens to discuss the value of their way of life. A total of 66 individuals (mean age = 55.5 ± 17.2 years; 50 women and 16 men) participated in focus group interviews.

ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

This study was approved by the Ethical Review Committee of Tokyo Women's Medical University (no. 4723) and Kyoto University (no. R2099).

FINDINGS

Five main themes were extracted: discussing one's thoughts with others in a considerate manner, reflecting on one's way of life through others, feeling a sense of connection with others through storytelling, realizing the difficulties of talking about "what if" topics, and turning one's eyes toward the future through the dialogue. These themes were interrelated and illustrated the complexity of the experience of discussing values.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that dialogue in ACP is useful in clarifying values. They also indicated the need for dealing with the ethical challenges of discussing value and the importance of caring for the interlocutor to have a safe dialogue. In the ACP process, safety in dialogue may improve readiness in ACP, and health practitioners who support ACP need to address the ethical challenges entailing dialogue about values.

The trajectory of prognostic cognition in patients with advanced cancer: is the traditional advance care planning approach desirable for patients?

Most patients with advanced cancer initially express a desire to be informed of their prognosis, and prognostic discussions between patients and their oncologists can trigger the subsequent trajectory of prognostic cognitions. On the continuum of prognostic cognition, including inaccurate/accurate prognostic awareness (awareness of incurability of cancer, terminal nature of illness or life expectancy) and prognostic acceptance (accepting one's prognosis), patients' perceptions of being informed of their prognosis by oncologists and patients' coping strategy for serious medical conditions regulate prognostic cognitions. However, nearly half of the patients with advanced cancer have poor prognostic awareness, and few patients achieve prognostic acceptance. These phenomena partly act as barriers to participation in advance care planning. When oncologists engage in advance care planning conversations, they must assess the patient's prognostic cognition and readiness for advance care planning. Considering the inaccurate prognostic awareness in a non-negligible proportion of patients and that astatic patients' preferences for future treatment and care are influenced by prognostic cognition, more research on decision-making support processes for high-quality and goal-concordant end-of-life care is needed along with research of advance care planning. In addition to making decisions regarding future medical treatment and care, oncologists must engage in continuous and dynamic goal-of-care conversations with empathic communication skills and compassion from diagnosis to end-of-life care.

Co-designing a culturally-sensitive theory-driven advance care planning game with Chinese older adults and healthcare providers

BACKGROUND

Advance care planning can be challenging because discussing end-of-life care often has negative connotations. Gamification is a novel approach to encourage advance care planning conversations in Western culture.

AIM

To co-design a game with multiple stakeholders to promote advance care planning in Chinese communities.

DESIGN

A two-phase design guided by the Medical Research Council framework for developing complex interventions was adopted between May 2019 and August 2020. In phase I, a game prototype was developed based on literature review, expert consultation and end-user consultation. In Phase II, the game prototype was tested among end-users and refined according to their feedback and expertise of a multi-disciplinary team through an iterative process.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Experts in the field of aged care, palliative care, life education and game development and Chinese community-dwelling adults aged 60 years or older.

RESULTS

A board game called 'The Five Tastes Found in a Grocery Store' was developed. The game design was shaped by Bandura's Self-efficacy theory and feedback from experts and end-users. The participants generally found the gaming experience enjoyable and appreciated the opportunity to discuss end-of-life care openly.

CONCLUSIONS

This study is the first to develop an evidence-informed, theory-based, culturally sensitive game for promoting advance care planning in the Chinese community using a co-design approach.

Public awareness of advance care planning and hospice palliative care: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Korea

CONTEXT

Advance care planning (ACP) and hospice palliative care (HPC) have potential benefits for individuals and health systems. Public awareness of them might increase their acceptance.

OBJECTIVES

To examine public awareness of ACP and HPC and related factors including individuals' experience of health care among Korean population.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study based on a nationally representative sample was conducted. Data from participants aged 15 years or older were examined. Socio-demographic characteristics, health-related factors, health care experience in the past year, and awareness of ACP and HPC were analyzed. Subgroup analysis was conducted to determine associations between specific experiences during outpatient visit and awareness of ACP and HPC.

RESULTS

Of a total of 13,546 subjects, 39.3% and 35.7% reported awareness of ACP and HPC, respectively. About half (48.6%) of participants reported that they were completely unaware of ACP or HPC. Recent outpatient visit was positively associated with HPC awareness. Participants were more likely to recognize ACP or HPC if they had experience in hospitalization and health checkup over the past year and had trust in the medical system. Conversely, participants who had inadequate health care access due to cost burden showed low awareness of ACP and HPC.

CONCLUSION

There was a lack of public awareness of ACP and HPC. There were significant differences depending on various factors, especially individual health care experiences. Appropriate interventions are needed to facilitate discussion of ACP and HPC, thereby increasing public awareness.

A Systematic Review of Non-Seriously Ill Community-Dwelling Asians' Views on Advance Care Planning

OBJECTIVES

To systematically synthesize the views of community-dwelling Asians on Advance care planning and to summarize the factors and reasons affecting their uptake of ACP.

DESIGN

Mixed-methods systematic review (PROSPERO: CRD42018091033).

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Asian adults (≥18 years old) living in the community globally.

METHODS

Medline (Ovid), Web of Science, CINAHL (EBSCO), Open Grey, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to June 30, 2022. Qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods studies reporting on the views of non-seriously ill community-dwelling Asian adults on ACP or the factors influencing their ACP uptake were included. Secondary research, studies not published in English, or studies not available as full text were excluded. Two independent teams of researchers extracted data, assessed methodologic quality, and performed the data analysis. Data analysis was conducted using the multistep convergent integrated approach based on Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for mixed-methods systematic review.

RESULTS

Fifty-eight studies were included. Non-seriously ill community-dwelling Asians were willing to engage in ACP (46.5%-84.4%) although their awareness (3.1%-42.9%) and uptake of ACP remained low (14.0%-53.4%). Background factors (sociodemographic factors, and health status, as well as experience and exposure to information) and underlying beliefs (attitude toward ACP, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control) were found to affect their uptake of ACP. A conceptual framework was developed to facilitate a proper approach to ACP for this population.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

A flexible approach toward ACP is needed for non-seriously ill community-dwelling Asians. There is also a need to raise end-of-life and ACP literacy, and to explore ways to narrow the gap in the expectations and implementation of ACP so that trust in its effective execution can be built.

Using the Kipling method to explore the contextual factors of decision-making during advance care planning for older cancer patients, their family, and health-care professionals: A qualitative secondary analysis

OBJECTIVES

Advance care planning (ACP) interventions are supposed to affect patients' autonomy and family health-care outcomes positively. However, the clinical benefits of ACP actualization and associated contextual factors merit questioning. Therefore, this study explores the critical contextual and procedural factors related to ACP decision-making based on the actual situation of older patients with cancer encountering end-of-life care in Taiwan.

METHODS

This retrospective qualitative secondary analysis used the Kipling method (5W1H) to explore further the critical contextual and procedural factors related to ACP decision-making processes. We applied thematic analysis and dual coding for 35 narratives, including 10 patients with cancer, 10 family caregivers, and 15 health-care staff, derived from a preliminary qualitative study regarding palliative care decision-making among patients with advanced cancer, their families, and health-care staff.

RESULTS

We identified 6 domains detailing the contextual factors for ACP decision-making: (1) WHO (decision makers); (2) WHAT (discussion content); (3) WHEN (care plan for which disease stage); (4) WHERE (patient's situational location); (5) WHY (reasons underpinning the decisions); and (6) HOW (the way to form the decisions).

SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS

Using the Kipling method to elaborate the contextual factors for ACP decision-making among older patients with cancer strengthens the understanding of complicated end-of-life care decision-making procedure. This study also demonstrates the dynamic and cultural complexity and the various factors considered during end-of-life care and future ACP discussion.

Palliative care practices and policies in diverse socio-cultural contexts: aims and framework of the ERC globalizing palliative care comparative ethnographic study

Background

Palliative care as a specialist professional practice of care for people with advanced illness is becoming increasingly influential worldwide. This process is affected by global health inequalities as well as cultural dimensions of approaching death and practicing care in life-limiting illness.

Objectives

The European Research Council-funded Globalizing Palliative Care (ENDofLIFE) project aims to understand how palliative care policies, discourses and practices are translated, adapted and reconstituted in diverse socio-cultural settings and how cultural dimensions of approaching death and local practices of care shape palliative care implementation.

Methods and Analysis

Using a multi-scalar and multi-sited ethnographic approach, the project uses person-centered ethnography, participant observation, semi-structured interviewing, focus group discussions and policy and discourse analysis at transnational, national and local levels. Ethnographic case-studies are conducted in Brazil, India and Indonesia.

Discussion

The globalizing palliative care project develops a novel ethnographic methodology of studying end-of-life care trajectories through long-term participant observation with individual patients and families as they manage and practice formal and informal health care in advanced illness. By analyzing how patients and families experience and navigate care over time, complemented by stakeholder interviews, the study advances critical theoretical insight into the relation between (large-scale and dynamically traveling) palliative care models, policies and discourses on the one hand and the experience and practice of palliative care in the lives of patients and informal care givers in local health care practices on the other hand. Insights are expected to benefit culturally situated palliative care policies and practices.

Advance Care Planning in Malaysia

BACKGROUND

In Malaysia, advance care planning is still in its infancy. There is no national implementation of Advance Care Planning.

AIMS

To describe the national state of advance care planning development in Malaysia METHODS: Review of relevant advance care planning literature locally and internationally was undertaken.

RESULTS

Positive development in Malaysia includes implementation of advance care planning at institutional level, initiatives to develop educational programmes as well as research activities to understand the attitude and perception of patients on advance care planning. However, there remain challenges, including lack of knowledge and awareness, lack of legislative framework to guide advance care planning implementation and lack of strong initiatives at a national level.

CONCLUSIONS

It is evident that there is much to learn nationally and internationally about ACP before any decision on implementation of ACP is made in Malaysia. ACP is a public health issue and requires concerted effort of all stakeholders, including Government agencies, academic institutions, and non-government organizations to raise public awareness. More research is needed to shape the future direction of ACP development in Malaysia.

Factors Impacting Advance Decision Making and Health Care Agent Appointment among Taiwanese Urban Residents after the Passage of Patient Right to Autonomy Act

In recent years, advance care planning (ACP) promotion in Taiwan has expanded beyond clinical practice to the broader population. This study aims to investigate people's attitudes toward ACP and to identify factors influencing their signing of advance directives (ADs) and appointment of health care agents (HCAs).

METHODS

We identified 2337 ACP participants from consultation records between 2019 and 2020. The relationships among the participants' characteristics, AD completion, and HCA appointment were investigated.

RESULTS

Of 2337 cases, 94.1% completed ADs and 87.8% were appointed HCAs. Welfare entitlement (OR = 0.47, p < 0.001), the place ACP progressed (OR = 0.08, p < 0.001), the participation of second-degree relatives (OR = 2.50, p < 0.001), and the intention of not being a family burden (OR = 1.65, p = 0.010) were significantly correlated with AD completion. The probability of appointing HCAs was higher in participants with family caregiving experience (OR = 1.42, p < 0.05), who were single (OR = 1.49, p < 0.05), and who expected a good death with dignity (OR = 1.65, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Our research shows that adopting ACP discussion in Taiwan is feasible, which encourages ACP conversation and facilitates AD completion.

IMPLICATIONS

Male and younger adults may need extra encouragement to discuss ACP matters with their families.

LIMITATIONS

due to sampling restrictions, our data were chosen from an urban district to ensure the integrity of the results. Furthermore, interview data could be collected in future research to supplement the quantitative results.

A serious game for engaging older adults in end-of-life care discussion: A mixed method study

OBJECTIVE

To examine the acceptability of a board game newly developed through a co-design process for promoting end-of-life care discussion among Chinese older adults.

METHODS

A multi-centre mixed method study, including a one group pre-test post-test study and focus group interviews, was conducted. Thirty older adults participated in a one-hour game session in a small group format. Acceptability was assessed by attrition rate and satisfaction with the game. Participants' experiences with the game were explored qualitatively. Within-subject changes in self-efficacy and readiness for advance care planning (ACP) behaviours were also examined.

RESULTS

The players generally had positive experiences with the game, giving a low attrition rate. A significantly higher level of self-efficacy in sharing end-of-life care preferences with surrogates was reported after the game session (p = 0.008). There was a slight increase in the proportion of players indicated that they would complete ACP behaviours in the coming months immediately after the intervention.

CONCLUSION

A serious game is acceptable by Chinese older adults to raise discussions regarding end-of-life matters.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

A game can be an ice-breaking tool to increase self-efficacy towards communicating end-of-life care preferences with surrogates, but follow-up support is needed to facilitate the uptake of ACP behaviours.

Cancer Survivors' Experiences With and Preferences for Medical Information Disclosure and Advance Care Planning: An Online Survey Among Indonesian Cancer Support Groups

PURPOSE

To understand the experiences and preferences of Indonesian cancer survivors regarding medical information disclosure and advance care planning.

METHODS

On the basis of systematic reviews of the scientific literature, qualitative studies, and expert-panel input, we developed an online survey that was distributed to nine cancer survivor support groups in Indonesia.

RESULTS

A total of 1,030 valid responses were received. Most participants were younger than 60 years (92%), female (91%), married (78%), Muslim (75%), diagnosed with breast cancer (68%), highly educated (64%), and more than one year beyond diagnosis of their cancer. If diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, participants wished to be informed about their diagnosis (74%), disease severity (61%), estimated curability (81%), expected disease trajectory (66%), and estimated life expectancy (37%). Between 46%-69% of the participants wished to discuss four topics of advance care planning (end-of-life treatments, resuscitation, health care proxies, and what matters at the end of life); 21%-42% had done so. Of those who wished to discuss these topics, 36%-79% preferred to do so with their family members. The most important reasons for not being willing to engage in advance care planning were the desire to surrender to God's will and to focus on here and now.

CONCLUSION

In a group of cancer survivors, most of them were highly educated, young, female, and diagnosed with breast cancer. Their preferences for medical information and advance care planning varied, with the majority wishing for information and involvement in advance care planning. Culturally sensitive advance care planning involves health care professionals eliciting individuals' preferences for medical information disclosure and discussing different topics in advance care planning conversations.

Hypoglycemic effect of Coffea arabica leaf extracts and major bioactive constituents

The present study focused on investigating the antioxidant, antiglycation activity, digestive enzymes inhibition, bioaccessibility and hypoglycemic effect of C. arabica leaves extracts. The extracts deactivated the O2•-, ROO•, H2O2, HOCl reactive oxygen species. Coffee leaves showed strong inhibition of α-glucosidase (IC50 = 40.30 μg mL-1) greater than the isolated metabolites and acarbose. There was also inhibition of pancreatic lipase (IC50 = 56.43 μg mL-1) in addition to a hypoglycemic effect in zebrafish similar to acarbose and metformin. With the exception of rutin, all biocompounds were detected at all stages of in vitro digestion. Finally, these results suggest that C. arabica leaf extracts possess antidiabetic and anti-obesity properties that can be attributed to the main metabolites and the synergistic action between them.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Chinese Diaspora Communities' Knowledge of and Engagement with Advance Care Planning: A Systematic Integrative Review

OBJECTIVES

To synthesize evidence regarding Chinese diasporas' understanding, experience, and factors influencing engagement with advance care planning. Methods: A systematic integrative review using content analysis. Seven electronic databases (Embase, CINAHL, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Medline (OVID), PsycINFo, and The Cochrane Library) and gray resources were searched for studies from January 1990 to March 2022. Study quality appraisal was undertaken. Results: 27 articles were identified and rated as moderate to good. Two overarching and interrelated themes were identified, "Awareness and knowledge" and "Engagement with advance care planning." There are low levels of awareness, knowledge and engagement with advance care planning for Chinese diaspora. Findings highlight that this is influenced by two key factors. First, the geographic context and legal, cultural, and social systems within which the Chinese diasporas are living act as a potential catalyst to enhance awareness and engagement with advance care planning. Second, aspects of Chinese diasporas' original culture, such as filial piety and a taboo surrounding death, were reported to negatively affect the promotion and engagement of advance care planning. Significance of Results: Chinese diasporas are intermediaries between two divergent cultures that intertwine to strongly influence engagement with advance care planning. Hence, a bespoke culturally tailored approach should be accommodated in future research and practice for Chinese communities in multicultural countries to further advance palliative and end-of-life care awareness among this group.

Timely Identification of Patients With Cancer and Family Caregivers in Need of End-of-Life Discussions by Home-Visit Nurses in Japan: A Qualitative Descriptive Study

End-of-life (EOL) discussions for patients with cancer are a key factor of successful EOL care; however, identifying the optimal timing for these discussions in Japanese home-care settings is difficult. To identify the time at which patients with cancer and their caregivers need EOL discussions, we explored when home-visit nurses start EOL discussions. We interviewed 23 home-visit nurses and analyzed the data using qualitative content analysis. Three themes were derived from the analysis. Participants identified the timing of EOL discussions as being sensitive to patients' changing health and care needs (increases in patient's total pain), changes in the family caregiver's physical or mental condition through daily care (increases in family caregiver distress), and the EOL process that patients follow (trajectory of disease). Developing a tool or in-service educational program that will enable inexperienced or new graduate home-visit nurses to implement EOL discussions at appropriate times is necessary.

Preferences and Attitudes Towards Life-Sustaining Treatments of Older Chinese Patients and Their Family Caregivers

Purpose

The family plays a major role in medical decision-making in China. Little is known about whether family caregivers understand patients' preference for receiving life-sustaining treatments and are able to make decisions consistent with them when patients are incapable of making medical decisions. We aimed to compare preferences and attitudes concerning life-sustaining treatments of community-dwelling patients with chronic conditions and their family caregivers.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 150 dyads of community-dwelling patients with chronic conditions and their family caregivers from four communities in Zhengzhou. We measured preferences for life-sustaining treatments (cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, hemodialysis, chemotherapy), who should decide, the timing of making decisions, and their most important consideration.

Results

The consistency of preferences for life-sustaining treatments between patients and family caregivers was poor to fair, with kappa values ranging from 0.071 for mechanical ventilation to 0.241 for chemotherapy. Family caregivers more frequently preferred each life-sustaining treatment for the patients than the patients themselves. More family caregivers than patients preferred the patient to make their own decisions about life-sustaining treatments (29% of patients and 44% of family caregivers). The most important considerations when deciding on life-sustaining treatments are family burden and the patient's comfort and state of consciousness.

Conclusion

There is a poor to fair consistency between community-dwelling older patients and their family caregivers in their preferences and attitudes towards life-sustaining treatments. A minority of patients and family caregivers preferred that patients make their own medical decisions. We recommend healthcare professionals to encourage discussions between patients and their families on future care to improve the mutual understanding within the family about medical decision-making.

End-of-life communication strategies for healthcare professionals: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Timely and effective communication about end-of-life issues, including conversations about prognosis and goals of care, are extremely beneficial to terminally ill patients and their families. However, given the context, healthcare professionals may find it challenging to initiate and facilitate such conversations. Hence, it is critical to improving the available communication strategies to enhance end-of-life communication practices.

AIM

To summarise the end-of-life communication strategies recommended for healthcare professionals, identify research gaps and inform future research.

DESIGN

A scoping review performed in accordance with the Arksey and O'Malley framework.

DATA SOURCES

A literature search was conducted between January 1990 and January 2022 using PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases and Google, Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global. Studies that described recommended end-of-life communication strategies for healthcare professionals were included.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine documents were included. Seven themes of communication strategies were found: (a) preparation; (b) exploration and assessment; (c) family involvement; (d) provision and tailoring of information; (e) empathic emotional responses; (f) reframing and revisiting the goals of care; and (g) conversation closure.

CONCLUSIONS

The themes of communication strategies found in this review provide a framework to integrally promote end-of-life communication. Our results will help inform healthcare professionals, thereby promoting the development of specialised training and education on end-of-life communication.

Advance care planning for patients with cancer and family caregivers in Indonesia: a qualitative study

Background

Individuals’ willingness to engage in advance care planning is influenced by factors such as culture and religious beliefs. While most studies on advance care planning in Asia have been performed in high-income countries, Indonesia is a lower-middle-income country, with a majority of strongly collectivist and religiously devout inhabitants. We studied the perspectives of Indonesian patients with cancer and family caregivers regarding advance care planning by first exploring their experiences with medical information-disclosure, decision-making, and advance care planning and how these experiences influence their perspectives on advance care planning.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews among 16 patients with cancer and 15 family caregivers in a national cancer center in Jakarta and a tertiary academic general hospital in Yogyakarta. We performed an inductive thematic analysis using open, axial, and selective coding. The rigor of the study was enhanced by reflective journaling, dual coding, and investigator triangulation.

Results

Twenty-six of 31 participants were younger than 60 years old, 20 were Muslim and Javanese, and 17 were college or university graduates. Four major themes emerged as important in advance care planning: (1) participants’ perceptions on the importance or harmfulness of cancer-related information, (2) the importance of communicating bad news sensitively (through empathetic, implicit, and mediated communication), (3) participants’ motives for participating in medical decision-making (decision-making seen as patients’ right or responsibility, or patients’ state of dependency on others), and (4) the complexities of future planning (e.g., due to its irrelevance to participants’ religious beliefs and/or their difficulties in seeing the relevance of future planning).

Conclusions

Culturally sensitive approaches to advance care planning in Indonesia should address the importance of facilitating open communication between patients and their families, and the various perspectives on information provision, bad news communication, and decision-making. Advance care planning should focus on the exploration of patients’ values, rather than drafting treatment plans in advance.

The decisional balance, attitudes, and practice behaviors, its predicting factors, and related experiences of advance care planning in Taiwanese patients with advanced cancer

Background

Patients with advanced cancer are prone to experience burdensome physical, psychological, and financial consequences. Healthcare providers may not fully appreciate advanced cancer patients’ medical care autonomy, such as at that emboded by Advance Care Planning (ACP), and by doing so may compromise their quality of end-of-life (EOL). Hence, it is essential for healthcare providers to effectively assess and communicate with patients’ regarding their medical decisions before their patients are incapacitated by their disease progression. The purpose of this investigation was to describe the decisional balance, attitudes, and practice behaviors of ACP and its predictors of ACP-related experiences in Taiwanese patients with advanced cancer.

Methods

This cross-sectional, descriptive study employed a mixed-methodsquantitative and qualitative design with a sample of 166 patients that were purposely recruited from in-patient oncology units at a regional teaching hospital in southern Taiwan. Study data consisted of patient replies to a 34-item self-report tool, Decisional Balance, Attitudes, Practice Behaviors of ACP (DAP-ACP) and 4 semi-structured questions.

Result

Findings indicated that, in general, study participants exhibited favorable ACP-decisional balance and positive ACP-attitudes & practice behaviors. The results also indicated that gender, educational level, and cancer diagnosis were associated with significant differences on the “ACP-decisional balance” and “ACP-attitudes” scales. In addition, our findings documented that the participants’ gender and educational level were significant predictors of both ACP-decisional balance and ACP-attitudes. Furthermore the participants’ ACP-practice behaviors were predicted by ACP-decisional balance, but not with their ACP-attitudes. The qualitative analysis of the semi-structured questions identified six themes in responses to current medical decision making (e.g., compliance with physician instructions, family engagement in treatment decision-making); and eight themes pertaining to future ACP-related concerns were identified (e.g., family conflict, effectiveness of time-limited trials).

Conclusion

To promote patients’ engagement in ACP, the healthcare professional need to assess and advocate patients’ concerns or attitudes regarding ACP in a timely manner. In addition, factors or concerns that might influence patients’ responses to ACP derived from both the quantitative and qualitative findings of this current study need to be considered especially in initiating the dialogue regarding ACP with patients with advanced cancer.

Trial registration

No. CYCH 2,019,072, Date of registration 5 Dec 2019.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-022-01073-5.

The explorations of the awareness, contemplation, self-Efficacy, and readiness of advance care planning, and its predictors in Taiwanese patients while receiving hemodialysis treatment

Background

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a major chronic illness worldwide, and Taiwan reports one of the highest incidence rates of ESRD with 529 cases per million population (pmp). A number of patients with ESRD patients might require lifelong hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialyses (PD). Due to the progression of dialysis, patients are likely to experience other chronic comorbidities, anxiety and depression, frequent hospitalizations, and higher rates of mortality compared to patients with other types of chronic illnesses. As a result, dialysis patients are prone to experience advance care planning (ACP) needs, such as whether they withdraw from receiving dialysis while approaching their end-of-life (EOL). Yet, existing studies have shown that dialysis patients seldom receive timely consultation regarding ACP and there are limited studies examining ACP amongst Taiwan HD patients.

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine ACP awareness, contemplation, self-efficacy and readiness; and factors influencing ACP readiness.

Design

This cross-sectional descriptive study with convenience sampling was conducted in the out-patient HD unit at a regional teaching hospital in southern Taiwan. A total of 143 ESRD patients undergoing HD treatments were recruited. A 55-item ACP engagement survey containing the subscales of awareness, contemplation, self-efficacy, and readiness was employed. The data were analyzed with t-tests, one-way ANOVAs, Pearson’s correlations and multiple regressions.

Results

The results of our investigation revealed that approximately half of the participants (n = 67, 46.9%) were not informed of ACP. Although they reported considering their EOL, medical decisions and desired care, they demonstrated significantly low self-efficacy in discussing ACP (t= -5.272, p < 0.001). HD duration influenced all four ACP subscales; religious beliefs significantly influenced ACP-self-efficacy and readiness; and marital status, education, and primary decision-maker status significantly influenced ACP-readiness. The predictors of ACP-readiness were high self-efficacy and being the primary decision-maker (Adjusted R² 61%).

Conclusion

Most of the HD patients in this study had low ACP-awareness, contemplation, self-efficacy, and readiness, and most had not completed any ACP-related advance directives (AD). Healthcare professionals should proactively provide HD patients with ACP-related information and answer patients’ and medical decision-makers’ questions in a timely manner, thereby improving the quality of EOL care.

Complexity of implementing a nationwide advance care planning program: results from a qualitative evaluation

BACKGROUND

We evaluated Singapore's national advance care planning (ACP) program to understand challenges to its implementation within multiple clinical settings.

METHODS

We conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) with a purposive sample of health care professionals (HCPs) involved in ACP program delivery within acute care hospitals, primary care clinics and nursing homes. FGDs were stratified into three categories based on HCPs' role within the ACP framework-leaders versus facilitators and advocates versus nursing home heads. Using NVivo 11, we analysed data using thematic analysis and Conceptual Framework for Implementation Research.

RESULTS

A total of 107 HCPs from 25 organisations participated in 22 FGDs. Findings revealed wide variation in ACP implementation among organisations and identified 12 themes organized within four domains-outer setting (lack of public awareness, shortcomings in inter-organisational partnerships, performance driven policies), inner setting (lack of commitment from organisational leadership, paucity of dedicated resources, absence of an institution-wide ACP culture, lack of physician engagement), characteristics of HCPs (language barriers) and process (inadequate training, complexity of conversations and documentations, challenges to retrieving ACP documents, absence of comprehensive monitoring and evaluation).

CONCLUSION

ACP program implementation is complex and faces multiple health care system challenges. To integrate ACP within routine clinical care, ACP processes should be simplified, training framework be strengthened, physicians be engaged and an ACP supportive culture be created within and outside organisations. Findings will be used to guide ACP implementation within the country and globally.

Acceptance of Advance Care Planning Among Young Adults in Shijiazhuang, China: A Mixed-Methods Study

Context: In the event of accidental trauma, incurable disease and public health emergencies, young adults are unable to participate in their own medical decisions, family members face the huge decision-making pressure and medical resources of the society were unevenly distributed. Objective: The purposes of this study is to investigate the Advanced Care Planning (ACP) acceptance and examine its influencing factors using sequential explanatory mixed methods in order to provide a basis for the formulation of later interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional study of young adults (N = 785) and 12 other young adults from two other communities were investigated from January 2021 to February 2022. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regressions were conducted. Content analysis was performed on the qualitative data. Results: The primary factors that contributed to the acceptance of ACP were the natural acceptance of death, being female, having a high level of education, having a loved one diagnosed with a chronic disease, and having heard of ACP. Among young adults, the acceptance of ACP may be impeded by a fear of the unknown nature of death, a poor understanding of ACP, and family-led decision-making. Discussion: Our study found that 77.1% had not heard of ACP before participating in the study and showed potential to accept ACP-related interventions. The study highlighted the importance of implementing regular young adult education courses, promoting routine ACP knowledge, individualized education, discussing family member's disease experiences, conducting family meetings, and identifying young adult responsibilities and roles in implement ACP for young adults in China.

Prognostic Awareness and Discussions of Incurability in Patients with Pretreated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and Caregivers: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Although patients with advanced cancer often have poor prognostic awareness, the most effective communication approach for improving prognostic awareness is unclear. In addition, the association between prognostic awareness and preferences for future medical treatment remains unexplored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed a prospective observational study of consecutive patients with advanced or post-operative recurrent non-small cell lung cancer whose disease had progressed after first-line chemotherapy, and their caregivers. We evaluated patterns of clinical discussions about incurability, prognostic awareness, and preference for future medical treatment at baseline and 3 months later.

RESULTS

We obtained 200 valid responses to the questionnaires at baseline and 147 valid responses 3 months later. In addition, 180 caregivers returned valid responses. A total of 54% of patients and 51% of caregivers had accurate awareness at baseline, and 52% of patients had accurate awareness 3 months later. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that patients who were informed about incurability in recent and past discussions were significantly more likely to have accurate awareness 3 months later, compared with those who were only informed recently (adjusted odds ratio 5.08; 95% CI, 1.31-19.78; P = .019). Accurate awareness at 3 months was significantly negatively associated with preference for life-prolonging treatment at 3 months after adjusting for covariates (adjusted odds ratio 0.39; 95% CI, 0.17-0.90; P = .028).

CONCLUSION

Patients with advanced cancer who had both recent and past discussions about incurability with their oncologists have more accurate prognostic awareness. Improving prognostic awareness could reduce the preference for life-prolonging treatment.

Strategies to Understand What Matters to Advanced Cancer Patients in Advance Care Planning: A Qualitative Study Using the Lifeline Interview Method

Little is known about how health care providers should conduct advance care planning to identify the values of East Asian patients who have serious illnesses. This study aims to explore whether and how patients from an East Asian culture and with advanced cancer express their values and priorities when nurses utilize the lifeline interview method to enable patients to reflect on their life trajectories and if it can bridge advance care planning discussions. Data obtained from individual, semistructured interviews of 11 patients with advanced lung cancer were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Seven main themes were identified: (1) treatment and essential elements to maintaining everyday life, (2) beliefs regarding and support for being "myself", (3) emotional ups and downs in response to physical condition, (4) competency to cope, (5) what I want to do "now" to achieve my goals, (6) goals that bring hope for life, and (7) wishes and preferences for end-of-life decision-making. Results suggest that the lifeline interview method is an excellent means for nurses and other health care professionals to elicit patients' values and priorities. Moreover, it bridges advance care planning discussions to reflect on what matters to patients in future palliative care.

Opportunities and challenges for advance care planning in strongly religious family-centric societies: a Focus group study of Indonesian cancer-care professionals

Background

Most studies on advance care planning in Asia originate in high-income Asian countries. Indonesia is a middle-income Asian country characterized by its religious devoutness and strong family ties. This study aims to explore the perspectives and experiences of Indonesian healthcare professionals on advance care planning for cancer patients.

Methods

Focus-group discussions were conducted in July and August 2019 and were analysed using thematic content analysis enhanced by dual coding and exploration of divergent views. Purposive sampling of physicians and nurses actively engaged in cancer care in a national cancer centre and a national general hospital.

Results

We included 16 physicians and 16 nurses. These participants were open to the idea of advance care planning. We further identified four aspects of this planning that the participants considered to be important: 1) the family’s role in medical decision-making; 2) sensitivity to communication norms; 3) patients’ and families’ religious beliefs regarding the control and sanctity of life; and 4) the availability of a support system for advance care planning (healthcare professionals’ education and training, public education, resource allocation, and formal regulation). Participants believed that, although family hierarchical structure and certain religious beliefs may complicate patients’ engagement in advance care planning, a considerate approach to involving family and patients’ religious perspectives in advance care planning may actually facilitate their engagement in it.

Conclusion

Indonesian healthcare professionals believed that, for culturally congruent advance care planning in Indonesia, it was essential to respect the cultural aspects of collectivism, communication norms, and patients’ religious beliefs.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12904-022-01002-6.

Experiences of Older Adults with Frailty Not Completing an Advance Directive: A Qualitative Study of ACP Conversations

Advance care planning (ACP) facilitates individuals to proactively make decisions on their end-of-life care when they are mentally competent. It is highly relevant to older adults with frailty because they are more vulnerable to cognitive impairment, disabilities, and death. Despite devoting effort to promoting ACP among them, ACP and advance directive completion rates remain low. This study aims to explore the experiences among frail older adults who did not complete an advance directive after an ACP conversation. We conducted a thematic analysis of audiotaped nurse-facilitated ACP conversations with frail older adults and their family members. We purposively selected ACP conversations from 22 frail older adults in the intervention group from a randomized controlled trial in Hong Kong who had ACP conversation with a nurse, but did not complete an advance directive upon completing the intervention. Three themes were identified: “Refraining from discussing end-of-life care”, “Remaining in the here and now”, and “Relinquishing responsibility over end-of-life care decision-making”. Participation in ACP conversations among frail older adults and their family members might improve if current care plans are integrated so as to increase patients’ motivation and support are provided to family members in their role as surrogate decision-makers.

Prognostication of the last days of life: Review article

Accurate prediction of impending death (i.e., last few days of life) is essential for terminally-ill cancer patients and their families. International guidelines state that clinicians should identify patients with impending death, communicate the prognosis with patients and families, help them with their end-of-life decision-making, and provide sufficient symptom palliation. Over the past decade, several national and international studies have been conducted that systematically investigated signs and symptoms of impending death as well as how to communicate such a prognosis effectively with patients and families. In this article, we summarize the current evidence on prognostication and communication regarding the last days of life of patients with cancer, and future directions of clinical research.

Exploring the Motivations for Completing Advance Care Directives: A Qualitative Study of Majority/Minority Israeli People Without Dementia

Background

Completing advance directives has been declared an essential instrument for preserving and respecting the autonomy and preferences for end-of-life care of people living with dementia. However, research deciphering the reasoning behind the decision to complete or not advance directives in the case of dementia remains limited, especially among people pertaining to different majority/minority groups.

Objectives

To explore the motivations of people without dementia in Israel to complete or not to complete advance directives and to compare these motivations among the majority veteran Jewish group, the minority Jewish Former Soviet Union immigrant group, and the minority Arab group.

Methods

This qualitative study used purposive sampling and focus groups with discussions elicited by a vignette. A total of 42 Israeli people without dementia participated in 6 focus groups: two with veteran Jews (n = 14), two with Jewish immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (n = 14), and two with Arabs (n = 14). The analysis followed recommended steps for thematic content analysis.

Results

Four overarching themes were identified: (1) the meaning of dementia-related advance directives, (2) motivations for willingness to complete advance directives, (3) motivations for not being willing to complete advance directives, and (4) ethical dilemmas. Some of the themes were common to all groups, while others were informed by the groups' unique characteristics. Participants displayed a lack of knowledge and misunderstanding about advance directives, and central concepts such as autonomy and competence. Furthermore, stigmatic images of dementia and of the person with the diagnosis were associated to participants' motivations to complete advance directives.

Conclusions

There is need to expand comparative research among culturally and socially similar and dissimilar groups within a country as well as between countries in order to better guide public health efforts to increase the rates of advance directives completion. Special attention should be paid to decreasing stigmatic beliefs and understanding unique cultural values and motivations.