Advance care planning: a qualitative study of dialysis patients and families.

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

More than 90,000 patients with ESRD die annually in the United States, yet advance care planning (ACP) is underutilized. Understanding patients' and families' diverse needs can strengthen systematic efforts to improve ACP.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of patients and family/friends from dialysis units at two study sites. Applying grounded theory, interviews were audiotaped, professionally transcribed, and analyzed in an iterative process. Emergent themes were identified, discussed, and organized into major themes and subthemes.

Results

Thirteen patients and nine family/friends participated in interviews. The mean patient age was 63 years (SD 14) and five patients were

SUBMITTER: Goff SL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4348687 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature