Resuscitation Preferences

What is Advance Care Planning?

Advance care planning (ACP) is a process that helps individuals reflect on and communicate their preferences for future medical care, particularly in situations where they may become seriously ill and unable to make decisions. In this study, ACP specifically focuses on resuscitation preferences, such as whether a person would want CPR or intensive care, and aims to ensure that these decisions reflect the person's values, beliefs, and medical realities.

Why is this important?

This study is importance because conversations surrounding resuscitation status are often poorly conducted or misunderstood, documented inaccurately, or influences by oversimplified or biased decision aids. These issues can lead to overtreatment, emotional distress, and care that doesn't align with a patient's wishes. The study seeks to improve the quality of these conversations, reduce decisional conflict, and support shared decision-making between patients, shared decision makers (SDMs), and clinicians.

What is involved in the study?

The study involved the development and testing of a video decision aid to support ACP conversations. Participants watch the video before an ACP conversation with a trained RN. ACP conversations are then audio-recorded and analyzed. Participants are also asked to complete questionnaires about their understanding of ACP, satisfaction with the video content, and their decision-making. The participants will be recruited across various inpatient specialities such as cardiology, nephrology, respirology, and general internal medicine.