Are older and seriously ill inpatients planning ahead for future medical care?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the perceived ethical, personal and health service benefits of advance care planning (ACP), the extent to which older and seriously ill Australian inpatients have considered future health decisions remains uncertain. This study aimed to determine in a sample of older and seriously ill inpatients, the proportion who had: 1) engaged in four advance care planning (ACP) activities; 2) not engaged in ACP activities but wanted to; and 3) reasons why they had not engaged.

Methods

Cross-sectional face-to-face standardised interview survey with inpatients in a tertiary referral centre who were either: aged 80+ years; aged 55+ years with progressive chronic disease(s); or judged by treating clinicians as having a life expectancy of less than 12 months. Patients indi

SUBMITTER: Waller A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6683455 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature