Implementing Advance Care Planning Conversation Tools in Family Practice

This study evaluates the use of advance care planning conversation tools with patients attending their family doctor's office. Patients complete tools about their values and wishes, and a health care provider uses a structured discussion tool to talk about the patient's health condition and future wishes. The patient's family member/substitute decision-maker is encouraged to attend and be part of the discussions.

Structured tools are helpful for advance care planning. Tools have been developed to help with advance care planning because it is a process which has multiple steps and people involved. This study will help health care teams in primary care learn to use the tools with frail or older seriously ill patients and will evaluate the perceptions of patients, family members and health care providers, as well as the impact of having the discussions on subsequent health care interactions the patient has. Patients complete tools about their values and wishes, and a health care provider uses a structured discussion tool to talk about the patient's health condition and future wishes. The patient's family member/substitute decision-maker is encouraged to attend and be part of the discussions.

Structured conversations between patients/substitute decision-maker and clinician based on education about advance care planning using locally relevant booklet/website, values clarification tool for patient engagement, clinician use of the Serious Illness Conversation Guide

Inclusion Criteria: age 60 or older chronic condition that may reduce life expectancy as per physician's clinical judgement able to communicate verbally in English and read English Exclusion Criteria: unable to communicate verbally in English unable to read English cognitively unable to give informed consent (e.g. memory problems) as judged by referring physician or research assistant