An Interventional Study for the Early Identification of Patients With Palliative Care Needs and the Promotion of Advance Care Planning and Advance Directives

ContextPrograms identifying patients needing palliative care and promoting advance care planning (ACP) are rare in Asia.ObjectivesThis interventional cohort study aimed to identify hospitalized patients with palliative care needs using a validated palliative care screening tool (PCST), examine the ability of the PCST to predict mortality, and explore effects of a pragmatic ACP program targeted by PCST on the utilization of life-sustaining treatment during the last three months of life.MethodsIn this prospective study, we used PCST to evaluate patients' palliative care needs between 2015 and 2016 and followed patients for three months. ACP with advance directives (ADs) was systematically offered to all patients with PCST score ≥4.ResultsOf 47,153 hospitalized patients, 10.4% had PCST score ≥4. During follow-up, 2121 individuals died within three months of palliative care screening: 1225 (25.0%) with PCST score ≥4 and 896 (2.1%) with PCST score <4. After controlling for covariates, PCST score ≥4 was significantly associated with a higher mortality within three months of screening (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 6.86; 95% CI 6.16–7.63). Moreover, ACP consultation (AOR 0.78; 95% CI 0.66–0.92) and AD completion (AOR 0.49; 95% CI 0.36–0.65) were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving life-sustaining treatments during the last three months of life.ConclusionWe demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a comprehensive palliative care program to identify patients with palliative care needs and promote ACP and AD in Eastern Asia. ACP consultation and AD completion were associated with reduced utilization of life-sustaining treatments during the last three months of life.     

Advance Directives and Opportunities for Nurses

Technical, social, and economic factors are an impetus for expressing end-of-life decisions as advance directives (ADs) including a living will and durable power of attorney. Despite opportunities, nurses do not appear to be widely involved in practice and research regarding ADs. To provide perspectives for nursing participation, the literature was reviewed, and a set of outcomes regarding ADs were identified. The historical background and the ethical issues associated with ADs are examined. Appropriate roles for nurses with respect to ADs are suggested. Research and practice opportunities are identified. The databases reviewed were the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature from 1983 to January 1996, and MEDLINE, from 1985 to January 1996.     

Are Emergency Department Patients Thinking about Advance Directives?

Objectives : To assess the percentage of adult patients presenting to an urban ED who have a written advance directive (AD) and to determine whether age, sex, a patient's perception of his or her health status, and having a regular physician are associated with the patient's having an AD.
Methods : This was a cross-sectional patient survey performed at a community teaching hospital ED. Surveys were completed by 511 adult ED patients during representative shifts over a 3-month period. The questions included age, sex, "self-reported" health status, whether the patient had a "regular" physician, a patient-generated list of medical problems, and whether the patient had a written AD. For this study, ADs included health care proxies, living wills, and do-not-attempt-resuscitation (DNAR) orders.
Results : Of the patients surveyed, 27% reported having an AD. Males and females were equally likely to have an AD. Factors associated with an increased likelihood of having an AD were older age, having a "regular" physician, and the patient's perception of his or her health status as ill. Most patients who had an AD (82%) discussed it with their families, but only 48% discussed it with their physicians.
Conclusion : Only 27% of the adult patients presenting to the ED had an AD. Older age, the patient's perception of his or her health status as ill, and having a "regular" physician increased the likelihood of having an AD.     

Improving Advance Care Planning in Outpatients With Decompensated Cirrhosis: A Pilot Study

BackgroundDespite significant morbidity and mortality among patients with decompensated cirrhosis, reported rates of advance directive (AD) completion and goals of care discussions (GCDs) between patients and providers are very low. We aimed to improve these rates by implementing a hepatologist-led advance care planning (ACP) intervention.MeasuresRates of AD and GCD completion, as well as self-reported barriers to ACP.InterventionProvider-led ACP in patients with decompensated cirrhosis without a prior documented AD.OutcomesSixty-two patients were seen over 115 clinic visits. After the intervention, AD completion rates increased from 8% to 31% and GCD completion rates rose from 0% to 51%. Women (P = 0.048) and nonmarried adults (P = 0.01) had greater changes in AD completion compared to men and married adults, respectively. Needing more time during visits was seen as the major barrier to ACP among providers.Conclusions/Lessons LearnedAddressing provider and system-specific barriers dramatically improved documentation rates of ACP.     

医护患对实施预立医疗照护计划的态度及影响因素调查

目的调查粤北地区某三级甲等医院医护人员、恶性肿瘤患者及家属对实施预立医疗照护计划的态度及影响因素。方法采用自行设计的问卷,调查本院210名医护人员、105名恶性肿瘤患者家属及103例恶性肿瘤患者对预立医疗照护计划的态度及影响因素。结果医护人员、家属及患者对预立医疗照护计划的认知率分别为16.7%、9.5%及6.8%;赞同实施率分别为85.7%、51.4%及88.3%。不同文化程度、宗教信仰、住院经历及丧亲原因的家属对预立医疗照护计划的态度差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。医护人员、家属及患者支持实施预立医疗照护计划原因不一,其中选择较多原因为疾病长期折磨、临终时应减轻痛苦等;不支持实施预立医疗照护计划的原因医护人员选择较多为没有法律支持、应救死扶伤,家属选择较多为伦理道德问题,患者选择较多为有事未了。结论不同地区医护人员、患者及家属对预立医疗照护计划认知程度可能不同,医护人员及患者对实施预立医疗照护计划态度较家属更认可和支持,多因素影响实施预立医疗照护计划态度,实施时需综合考虑社会道德观念及法律等问题。     

Concordance Between Proxy Level of Care Preference and Advance Directives Among Nursing Home Residents With Advanced Dementia: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial

Context

Care consistent with goals is the desired outcome of advance care planning (ACP).

Advance directives in the primary care setting

Advance directives have been available for more than 20 years, yet only 2% of patients report having had a discussion about them with their physician. Physicians and patients appear to be reluctant to bring up the subject despite evidence that patients not only want help with advance directives, but report more satisfaction with their health care when the topic is addressed. The primary care setting is particularly well-suited to the establishment of advance directives. A clearer understanding of the benefits of advance directives to physicians and their patients can hopefully increase the use of this important health care resource.     

Advance Directives,Medical Conditions,and Preferences for End-of-Life Care Among Physicians: 12-year Follow-Up of the Johns Hopkins Precursors Study

Context

Stability of preferences for life-sustaining treatment may vary depending on personal characteristics.

Perspectives of Elderly People on Advance Directives in Japan

PURPOSE: To examine perspectives of Japanese elderly people on advance directives (ADs) and factors related to positive attitudes toward ADs. METHOD: The data were collected by a structured questionnaire from 313 of 565 older adult members of senior citizens' centers in two cities in Japan. Survey items pertained to demographic characteristics, terminal care preferences, and personal values, including autonomy, family function, and religious piety. FINDINGS: Of the 313 elderly people who completed questionnaires, 72.9% had positive preferences for executing living wills. With regard to durable power of attorney for health care, 62.2% approved of it. The supporters of ADs were more likely to have had discussions about terminal care with family members or physicians, experience of a family member hospitalized for terminal illness or injury, preferences for life-sustaining treatments that were self-determined, and personal values such as religious piety. The relationship between positive preferences toward durable power of attorney for health care and sex, marital status, and living arrangements were significant. CONCLUSIONS: Most Japanese older adults in this study approved of ADs, and family structure was important to the acceptance of designating a proxy. Discussion about end-of-life care and respect for life-sustaining treatment preferences are important decisions, about the end of life.     

Advance Directives in Skilled Nursing Facility Residents Transferred to Emergency Departments

OBJECTIVE: Ten years have passed since Congress enacted the Patient Self-Determination Act to promote the use of advance directives (ADs). This study was performed to determine the frequency, type, demographic distribution, and utility of ADs that accompany residents of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) transferred to emergency departments (EDs). METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional cohort of SNF residents, transferred to two urban, academic EDs. Chart review and physician interviews were conducted on consecutive patients arriving during 12-hour data collection shifts. RESULTS: Among 715 patients entered, 315 [44%, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 40% to 48%] had an AD. Advance directives were significantly more prevalent among white (50%) than African American (34%) or Hispanic (39%) patients (p < 0.001), and varied from 0% to 94% among SNFs. Of the 315 patients with ADs, do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders were the most prevalent (65%, 95% CI = 58% to 69%). Although 75% (95% CI = 69% to 81%) of the DNR orders addressed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), only 12% (95% CI = 8% to 16%) addressed intubation. Among 39 patients who required intubation or CPR, 44% had ADs, 82% (95% CI = 57% to 96%) of which were deemed useful. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a decade of legislation promoting their use, ADs are lacking in most SNF residents transferred to EDs for evaluation and in most settings in which a clinical indication exists for intubation or CPR. Variation in their prevalence appears to be associated with both ethnicity and SNF origin. Although about three-fourths of DNR ADs addressed CPR, only about one in ten offered guidance regarding intubation. When available, ADs are used in most instances to guide emergency care.     

Attitudes of the General Public,Cancer Patients,Family Caregivers,and Physicians Toward Advance Care Planning: A Nationwide Survey Before the Enforcement of the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision-Making Act

Context

To respect a patient's wish for end-of-life care, “the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment for Patients at the End-of-Life” was enacted in South Korea in 2016. Current understanding of people who would be involved in advance care planning (ACP) is crucial to disseminate it systematically.