Front-line Hospice Staff Perceptions of Barriers and Opportunities to Discussing Advance Care Planning With Hospice Patients and Their Families

Author(s):  
Anna Oh ◽  
Theresa A. Allison ◽  
Katherine Mahoney ◽  
Nicole Thompson ◽  
Christine S. Ritchie ◽  
...  
2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanette E. J. McLennan ◽  
Jennifer H. M. Boddy ◽  
Michelle G. Daly ◽  
Lesley M. Chenoweth

Objective This paper reports on the experiences and perspectives of community members in relation to advance healthcare directives and enduring power of attorney, including the factors that encourage or discourage engagement in advance care planning (ACP). Methods A qualitative methodology was used involving 26 in-depth telephone interviews with community members (mean age 66 years). The aims of the interview question were to gain an understanding of: (1) motivations for engaging in ACP; (2) barriers that prevent people from engaging in ACP; and (3) suggestions for promoting ACP. Results The findings suggest that: (1) community members lack knowledge about ACP; (2) forms appear inaccessible and complex; (3) community members avoid ACP due to fear, mistrust and concerns over control; and (4) there are misperceptions regarding the relevance of ACP based on age and health. Conclusions There is unnecessary fear, avoidance and mistrust around ACP activities, largely resulting from misinformation. There is an undoubted need for greater education and support to be offered to individuals and their families regarding ACP, its benefits and its limitations. What is known about the topic? There is a lack of awareness about ACP in Australia, which is compounded by issues in the accessibility of ACP information, forms and support in completing the often complex documentation. Further, studies have indicated health practitioners tend to avoid assisting patients with ACP decision making and formalisation of their wishes for health care should they lose testamentary capacity. What does this paper add? This paper contributes further understanding of the experiences and perceptions of people, particularly older Australians, in relation to ACP, including the motivating and discouraging factors for people in the uptake of advance healthcare directives and enduring power of attorney. People felt discomfort and mistrust about ACP, and lacked understanding of its relevance regardless of age or health status. Those who had engaged in ACP, prompted by family members or experiences in, or witnessing, ill health, felt a sense of security in having formalised their wishes. What are the implications for practitioners? It is now clear that people require improved provision of information and support around ACP-related activities. This support may best be offered by practitioners such as nurses and social workers who are knowledgeable regarding ACP and skilled in counselling. Without discussion of death and dying, and the role of ACP, people will continue to feel a mistrust and avoidance towards formalising their healthcare wishes in advance.


2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ralf J. Jox ◽  
Francesca Bosisio ◽  
Eve Rubli Truchard

Zusammenfassung. Die Palliative Care muss sich im Zuge des demographischen Wandels vieler Gesellschaften rund um den Globus tiefgreifend wandeln. Sie muss mehr und mehr mit der Geriatrie zusammenarbeiten und geriatrische Expertise integrieren. Eine der zentralen Herausforderungen Geriatrischer Palliative Care ist die ethisch angemessene Therapieentscheidung für Menschen, die nicht mehr urteilsfähig sind. Nachdem der bisherige Ansatz herkömmlicher Patientenverfügungen erwiesenermassen enttäuscht hat, wird aktuell, gerade auch in deutschsprachigen Ländern, das systemische Konzept des Advance Care Planning (ACP) verfolgt. In diesem Artikel wird zunächst ACP mit seinen Zielen, Elementen und Effekten vorgestellt. Sodann wird gezeigt, weshalb es für Menschen mit Demenz eines adaptierten ACP-Programms bedarf und was ein solches demenzspezifisches ACP beinhalten muss.


Praxis ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 106 (25) ◽  
pp. 1369-1375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Loupatatzis ◽  
Tanja Krones

Zusammenfassung. Advance Care Planning ist ein begleiteter, strukturierter Prozess, der es Patienten und ihren Angehörigen ermöglicht, sich mit ihren Einstellungen zu Leben und Sterben sowie möglichen Behandlungen für den Fall einer Urteilsunfähigkeit mit Hilfe eines ausgebildeten Beraters auseinander zu setzen. Das Konzept kombiniert die individuelle Beratung des Patienten mit einem regionalen, systemischen Ansatz, der sicherstellt, dass alle Beteiligten die verwendeten Dokumente kennen und auch in einer Notfallsituation korrekt anwenden können. Ziel ist es, die Behandlung von urteilsunfähigen Patienten besser im Sinne ihrer Wünsche und Bedürfnisse zu koordinieren und dadurch die Patientenautonomie zu stärken.


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