Advance care planning in the perioperative setting: a mixed methods study of anaesthetists' knowledge, attitudes and practice.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Advance care planning (ACP) allows patients to detail their wishes in case they lose capacity. Despite low mortality rates, the high volume of surgery means that thousands of people die in the weeks and months following an operation. Perioperative ACP may benefit patients at high risk of complications and death by allowing them to discuss and document their priorities.

Objectives

To assess UK anaesthetists' knowledge, attitudes and practice regarding ACP and explore perceived barriers to perioperative ACP.

Design

Explanatory sequential mixed methods study, comprising a national online survey followed by qualitative interviews and observations. Data were integrated by using survey findings to shape the qualitative component, analysing both components for con

SUBMITTER: Blackwood DH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12410609 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature