Barriers and facilitators to advance care planning for people with intellectual disabilities: a cross-sectional survey study of professional caregiver perspectives.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Advance care planning (ACP) is a critical process for ensuring person-centred end-of-life care, yet it remains underutilized among people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Understanding caregivers' perspectives is essential to identify barriers and facilitators to ACP implementation and improve practice. This study aimed to examine how professional caregivers in Austria perceive and experience ACP for people with ID, including its current use, barriers, facilitators, and strategies to improve uptake.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured online form comprising multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Data were collected from 125 professional caregivers across Austria who were primary caregivers of at least one adult with ID and prof

SUBMITTER: Zeilinger EL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12853855 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature