scholarly journals Exploring the Expanded Role of Pharmacists in Advance Care Planning

2021 ◽  
pp. OP.20.00684
Author(s):  
Joseph D. Ma ◽  
Alexandra Dullea ◽  
Chelsea Hagmann ◽  
Sarah Friedman ◽  
Michelle Russell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Clinical Skill ◽  
Outpatient Setting ◽  
Treatment Preferences ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Incurable Cancer ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Location Of Death ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Resuscitation Status

PURPOSE: Advance care planning (ACP) is a clinical skill that can be taught. An opportunity exists to teach how to conduct ACP to clinicians not typically engaged in these conversations to increase the likelihood that patients and caregivers engage in ACP. We conducted a prospective study exploring the feasibility of a pharmacist-led ACP intervention. METHODS: We completed a prospective, single-center study from July 2015 to July 2017. We included patients of age ≥ 18 years with incurable cancer referred to the palliative care clinic. A trained pharmacist led an ACP discussion with the patient and selected proxy. We defined feasibility as completion of ≥ 30 pharmacist-led ACP discussions over the study period. Additionally, we defined an informed healthcare proxy as someone who understood three key end-of-life (EOL) treatment preferences: the patient's personal definition of quality of life, desired resuscitation status, and preferred location of death (in or out of the hospital). Patients were followed until the end of the study or death. For those patients who died, the pharmacist contacted the proxy for follow-up and explored satisfaction with the ACP intervention. RESULTS: Thirty-four patients completed the study. All selected proxies completed the intervention and were able to understand the three EOL preferences. At the time of the patient’s death (n = 20), proxies reported that 66.6% received their preferred resuscitation status and 72.2% died in their preferred location. Proxy satisfaction with the ACP process was 7.6 ± 2.5 (mean ± SD) on a 11-point Likert scale. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate the potential for pharmacists to lead and engage in ACP in the outpatient setting.

Palliative care pharmacists as advocates to conduct advance care planning.

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (8_suppl) ◽  
pp. 73-73
Author(s):  
Joseph Ma ◽  
Alexandra Dullea ◽  
Chelsea Hagmann ◽  
Michelle Russell ◽  
Arlene Cramer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Social Worker ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
Treatment Preferences ◽  
Clinical Social Worker ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Time To Death ◽  
Advance Care

73 Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is a process whereby individuals consider their end-of-life (EoL) treatment preferences and make them known to caregivers and clinicians in the event of decisional incapacity. We previously reported a focused ACP intervention led by a clinical social worker (J Palliat Med 2016). Based on this trial’s initial success, we aimed to evaluate this approach when led by a pharmacist. To date, no data exists regarding pharmacist-led ACP discussions. Methods: Advanced stage cancer patients were screened at a single, academic oncology palliative care clinic. Training of the pharmacist included observation of ACP interventions conducted by the clinical social worker, didactic lectures, and role playing. Subjects engaged in a 1-hour ACP intervention with a palliative care pharmacist within 4 weeks of consent. Details of the ACP intervention were documented in the electronic medical record and AD/POLST completion was encouraged but not required. The study outcome was the identification of an informed proxy. After the patient’s death, proxies were contacted to determine if EoL wishes were achieved. Descriptive analyzes were performed. Results: Patient demographics were 22 patients, who were mostly woman (n = 13), Caucasian (n = 17), married (n = 14), with a mean age ± SD of 60.3 ± 10.5 years and with gastrointestinal (n = 5) and genitourinary (n = 5) as the most common primary cancers. After the ACP intervention by the pharmacist, 21 of 22 patients identified an informed proxy. The most commonly identified proxy was a spouse (n = 13). Fourteen (64%) subjects completed an AD/POLST after the ACP intervention. As of October 2016, 27% (6/22) of patients have died. Four out of 6 patients died in a setting consistent with their EoL wishes. Mean time to death from ACP intervention was 133±132 days. Sixteen subjects remain in surveillance. Conclusions: Preliminary results suggest that a pharmacist can conduct ACP discussions to identify an informed HCP. To date, the majority of patients achieved a death concordant with their EoL wishes.

scholarly journals Validation of the psychometric properties of the Malay advance care planning questionnaire

2021 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mun Kit Lim ◽  
Pauline Siew Mei Lai ◽  
Pei Se Wong ◽  
Sajaratulnisah Othman ◽  
Fadzilah Hanum Mohd Mydin
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Psychometric Properties ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Factor Model ◽  
Tertiary Education ◽  
Primary Care Clinic ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Advance Care

Abstract Background There is a growing interest among the developing countries on advance care planning (ACP) due to the reported benefits of planning ahead in the developed countries. Validated instruments in various languages have been developed to facilitate study on the views of public prior to its implementation. However, instrument to explore the views on ACP in Malay has not been developed and validated yet, even though Malay is spoken extensively by approximately 220 million people in the Malay Archipelago. There is also a need for instrument in Malay language to facilitate the assessment of knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of Malaysians regarding ACP. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the psychometric properties of the Malay Advance Care Planning Questionnaire (ACPQ-M). Methods The ACPQ was translated according to international guidelines. This validation study was conducted from January to June 2018. Participants who were ≥ 21 years old, and able to understand Malay were recruited from an urban primary care clinic and a tertiary education institution in Malaysia. A researcher administered the ACPQ-M to participants via a face-to-face interview at baseline and 2 weeks later. Each interview took approximately 10–20 min. Results A total of 222/232 participants agreed to participate (response rate = 96.0%). Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis found that the ACPQ-M was a 4-factor model. The Cronbach’s α values for the four domains ranged from 0.674–0.947. Only 157/222 participants completed the test-retest (response rate = 71%). At test-retest, quadratic weighted kappa values for all domains ranged from 0.340–0.674, except for two domains which ranged from − 0.200-0.467. Conclusions The ACPQ-M was found to be a 4-factor model, and a valid and reliable instrument to assess the KAP regarding ACP. This instrument can contribute to profound understanding of the KAP of Malaysians regarding ACP, and assist policy makers in determining the readiness for legislation of ACP in Malaysia.

Prevalence of advance care planning in a resident run clinic in an underserved community.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e24067-e24067
Author(s):  
Swetha Ann Alexander ◽  
Vinay Mathew Thomas ◽  
David Wu ◽  
Radhika Kulkarni ◽  
William Rabitaille
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
African American ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Primary Care Clinic ◽  
Retrospective Chart Review ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Underserved Community ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
End Stage

e24067 Background: Advance Care Planning (ACP) ensures that patients receive care that is in line with their values and preferences. ACP is best done in the outpatient setting. Despite recognizing the importance of ACP, the rates of ACP completion continue to be low. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the rates of ACP in a resident run primary care clinic in Hartford, Connecticut, which serves the underserved community. We looked at patient characteristics to find correlation with ACP completion. We also aimed to determine the reasons which could decrease the completion of ACP. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review. Patients who met any of the inclusion criteria [i) Age>65 ii) End stage renal disease on dialysis iii) Metastatic/Recurrent cancer iv) End stage heart failure v) COPD Gold stage D] and were seen in the primary care clinic from September 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 were selected. Their charts were reviewed to see if ACP was documented during primary care visits over the past two years. The demographics of the patients were noted. Subsequently, a survey was distributed to residents to determine the possible causes of low rates of ACP discussion. Results: The characteristics of the 373 patients included in the study are shown in Table 1. Only 14 (3.8%) of the 373 had documentation of ACP during their primary care visits. The characteristics of the 14 patients in whom ACP was done are as follows: Sex- Female 9/14 (64%); Ethnicity- Hispanic 10/14 (71%), African American 4/14 (29%); Religious Affiliation- Christian 13/14 (93%), None 1/14 (7%); Married/Partner 2/14 (14%). Patient demographics including sex (p 0.6), religious beliefs (p 0.8), and marital status (p 0.6) did not show any correlation with the likelihood of ACP completion. Of the 31 residents who answered the survey, the most commonly listed barriers to ACP completion were the following: lack of time to conduct these discussions (94%), forgetting to conduct ACP discussions (48%), and lack of training (19%). All the residents believed that ACP discussion was beneficial to patients and medical providers. Conclusions: The rates of ACP planning in our clinic are much lower than the national average. African American and Hispanics, who make up the majority of our clinic population, traditionally have had low rates of ACP completion. This is an important issue that needs to be addressed. Advance care planning training should be also be strengthened during residency. [Table: see text]

Attitudes of Patients With Incurable Cancer Toward Medical Treatment in the Last Phase of Life

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. 2012-2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elsbeth Voogt ◽  
Agnes van der Heide ◽  
Judith A.C. Rietjens ◽  
Anna F. van Leeuwen ◽  
Adriaan P. Visser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Incurable Cancer ◽  
History Of ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
Positive Feelings ◽  
End Of Life Decision ◽  
History Of Cancer

Purpose When cancer has advanced to a stage in which cure becomes unlikely, patients may have to consider the aim of further treatment. We studied the relationship of patients' attitudes toward treatment with advance care planning and the development of these attitudes after diagnosis of incurable cancer. Patients and Methods Patients with incurable cancer were interviewed and asked to fill out a written questionnaire about their attitudes concerning life-prolonging treatment and end-of-life decision making. These questions were repeated after 6 and 12 months. Results One hundred twenty-two patients (mean age, 64 years; standard deviation, 10.5 years; 53% women) participated in the study. Patients' attitudes toward treatment could be categorized into the following three different profiles: striving for quality of life, striving for length of life, and no clear preference. Patients who were older, more tired, or had less positive feelings and patients who had more often taken initiatives to engage in advance care planning were more inclined to strive for quality of life than others. Patients with a history of cancer of less than 6 months were more inclined to prefer life prolongation than patients with a longer history of cancer. During follow-up, no changes in attitudes toward treatment were found, except for patients with a short history of cancer in whom the inclination to strive for length decreased. Conclusion Patients who appreciate advance care planning were more inclined to strive for quality of life than other patients. Shortly after the diagnosis of cancer, patients typically seem to prefer life-prolonging treatment, whereas quality of life becomes more important when death is nearing.

scholarly journals Case-control study of end-of-life treatment preferences and costs following advance care planning for adults with end-stage kidney disease

Nephrology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus Sellars ◽  
Rachael L Morton ◽  
Josephine M Clayton ◽  
Allison Tong ◽  
Daveena Mawren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Case Control Study ◽  
Case Control ◽  
Treatment Preferences ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
End Stage Kidney Disease ◽  
Advance Care ◽  
End Stage ◽  
Control Study

scholarly journals “My Family Wants Something Different”: Discordance in Perceived Personal and Family Treatment Preference and Its Association With Do-Not-Resuscitate Order Placement

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e942-e947
Author(s):  
Login S. George ◽  
William Breitbart ◽  
Holly G. Prigerson
Keyword(s):  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Life Extension ◽  
Treatment Preference ◽  
Family Treatment ◽  
Treatment Preferences ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Do Not Resuscitate ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Comfort Care ◽  
Advance Care

PURPOSE: Patients make treatment decisions based not only on what they want, but what they think their families want. Discordance in such perceived preferences may therefore pose challenges for advance care planning. This study examines discordance in preference for life-extending care versus comfort-focused care and its association with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order placement. METHODS: One hundred eighty-nine patients with advanced cancers refractory to at least one chemotherapy regimen were enrolled in a multisite observational study. In structured interviews, patients reported their preference for treatment maximizing either life extension or comfort; patients also indicated their perception of their families’ preference. DNR placement was reported by patients and verified using medical records. RESULTS: Approximately 23% of patients (n = 43) perceived discordance between their preference and their families’ preference. Patients who perceived discordance were less likely to have completed a DNR compared with those who perceived concordance, even after controlling for relevant confounds (odds ratio = .35; P = .02). Subgroups of discordance and concordance showed varying DNR placement rates (χ2, 19.95; P < .001). DNR placement rate was lowest among discordant subgroups, where there was either a personal (26.7%; four of 15) or family preference for comfort care (28.6%; eight of 28), followed by patients who perceived concordance for wanting life-extending care (34.5%; 29 of 84) and by patients who perceived concordance in wanting comfort-focused care (66.1%; 41 of 62). CONCLUSION: Many patients may perceive discordance between personal and family treatment preferences, posing impediments to advance care planning. Such patients may benefit from additional decision support.

Improving Advance Care Planning in a Resident Primary Care Clinic

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-190
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Nassikas ◽  
Grayson L. Baird ◽  
Christine M. Duffy
Keyword(s):  
Internal Medicine ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Advance Care Planning ◽  
Primary Care Clinic ◽  
Internal Medicine Resident ◽  
Chronically Ill ◽  
Care Planning ◽  
Care Clinic ◽  
Medicine Resident ◽  
Advance Care

Introduction: Two-thirds of chronically ill patients do not have an advance directive. The primary aim of this study was to develop an intervention to increase the documentation of advance directives in elderly adults in an internal medicine resident primary care clinic. The secondary aims were to improve resident confidence in discussing advance care planning and increase the number of discussions. Methods: The study was a pre- and postintervention study. The study intervention was a 30-minute educational session on advance care planning. Study participants were patients aged 65 years and older who were seen in an internal medicine residency primary care clinic over a 6-month period and internal medicine residents. Clinic encounters were reviewed for the presence of advance care planning discussions before and after the intervention. Resident confidence was measured on a Likert scale. Results: Two hundred ninety-five eligible patients were seen in the clinic from January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2017, and included in the analysis performed between 2017 and 2018. The mean number of documented advance care planning discussions increased from 2.24 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.0-4.9) during the preintervention period to 8.94 (95% CI: 5.94-13.24]) during the postintervention period ( P = .0011). Following the intervention, residents overall reported increased confidence in discussing advance care planning. Conclusion: A relatively modest intervention to increase advance care planning discussions is feasible in an internal medicine primary care clinic and can improve the confidence of residents with end-of-life discussion.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document