Predictors of advance directives among nursing home residents with dementia

Advanced Care Directives in Residential Aged Care for Residents with Major Neuro-Cognitive Disorders (Dementia): A Scoping Review

The aim of this review was to identify, assess, collate, and analyze existing research that has made a direct contribution to aiding understanding of the ethical and decision-making issues related to the use of advance care directives for people with dementia and/or other major neurocognitive disorders and/or their surrogate decision-makers on treatment. The Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, Academic Search Ultimate, and MEDLINE databases were searched between August and September 2021 and July to November 2022 limited to primary studies written in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Twenty-eight studies of varying quality that addressed related thematic areas were identified. These themes being support for autonomy in basic needs (16%), making decisions ahead/planning ahead and upholding these decisions (52%), and support in decision-making for carers (32%). Advance care directives are an important mechanism for documenting treatment preferences in patient care planning. However, the available literature on the topic is limited in both quantity and quality. Recommendations for practice include involving decision makers, promoting educational interventions, exploring how they are used and implemented, and promoting the active involvement of social workers within the healthcare team.

Factors associated with the intention to engage in care planning among persons with mild cognitive impairment and dementia

This study examined factors associated with the intention to engage in advance care planning among persons with cognitive impairment. This cross-sectional study recruited 116 persons with cognitive impairment by convenience sampling from two teaching hospitals in Northern Taiwan from November 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020. Fewer than 50% of the participants intended to engage in advance care planning, and less than 10% signed the living will for hospice and palliative care. Multivariate linear regression determined factors influencing advance care planning intention included education level, a proxy signed do-not-resuscitate document, belief that family members would provide a signed do-not-resuscitate at their end-of-life, and necessity of explaining future care in advance. It is recommended to popularize advance care planning education and ensure the rights of persons with cognitive impairment to enable them to fully participate in their own care plans through family-centered advance care planning.

The effect of a family-centered advance care planning intervention for persons with cognitive impairment and their family caregivers on end-of-life care discussions and decisions

Advanced care planning (ACP) includes advance directives (AD), which can specify provisions for palliative care and types of life-sustaining treatments for an individual requiring end-of-life (EoL) care. ACP for persons in the early stages of cognitive decline can decrease anxiety and conflict for family members needing to make decisions about EoL-care, which is especially critical for family caregivers (FCGs) if they play a role as a surrogate regarding healthcare decisions. However, ACP for persons with cognitive impairment (PWCIs) is often overlooked. This study explored the effects of a family-centered ACP intervention on decisions about EoL-care, life-sustaining treatment decisions, and discussions of related topics among PWCIs and FCGs. The study was conducted in outpatient clinics of regional teaching hospitals in northern Taiwan. Participants were dyads consisting of persons diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and their FCGs. The family-centered ACP intervention was provided by an ACP-trained senior registered nurse. A one-group, pretest–posttest design was used to evaluate the effect of the intervention on 44 dyads. Four structured questionnaires collected data regarding familiarity with ACP, intention to engage in ACP, participation in personal discussions between the dyads about ACP, and consistency between PWCIs and FCGs for decisions about life-sustaining treatments at EoL. Paired t, Kappa, and McNemar tests were used to compare differences between pre-intervention data (pretest) and post-intervention data (posttest). There were significant increases in familiarity with ACP, components of ACP, and the number of topics PWCIs and FCGs personally discussed surrounding EoL-care decisions. There was no change for either group in wanting to have a formal ACP consultation and only modest increases in consistency between PWCIs and FCGs for life-sustaining treatment decisions after completion of the family-centered ACP intervention. Clinicians caring for PWCIs should incorporate family-centered ACP interventions and support ongoing discussions about life-sustaining medical treatments to ensure their preferences regarding EoL-care are respected. The accessibility and availability of consultations about ACP should also be provided.

Advance care planning information intervention for persons with mild dementia and their family caregivers: Impact on end-of-life care decision conflicts

Persons with dementia are at high risk for loss of decision-making ability due to increased cognitive decline as the disease progresses. Participation in advance care planning (ACP) discussions in the early stages of dementia is crucial for end-of-life (EoL) decision-making to ensure quality of EoL care. A lack of discussions about ACP and EoL care between persons with dementia and family caregivers (FCGs), can lead to decisional conflicts when persons with dementia are in the later stages of the disease. This study explored the effects of a family-centered ACP information intervention among persons with dementia and FCGs. The study was conducted in outpatient clinics in Taiwan. Participants were dyads (n = 40) consisting of persons diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and their FCGs. A one-group, pretest–posttest, pre-experimental design was employed. The intervention was provided by an ACP-trained senior registered nurse and was guided by ACP manuals and family-centered strategies. Outcome data were collected with four structured questionnaires regarding knowledge of end-stage dementia treatment, knowledge of ACP, attitude towards ACP, and EoL decisional conflict about acceptance or refusal of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, ventilators, and tracheostomy. Paired t tests compared differences between pre-intervention data and 4-weeks’ post-intervention data. The intervention resulted in significant improvements among persons with dementia and FCGs for knowledge of end-stage dementia treatment (p = .008 and p < .001, respectively), knowledge of ACP (both p < .001), and significant reductions in decisional conflicts (both p < .001). Scores for positive and negative attitude toward ACP did not change for persons with dementia; however, there was a reduction in negative attitude for FCGs (p = .001). Clinical care for persons with dementia should incorporate ACP interventions that provide knowledge about EoL dementia care using family-centered care strategies that facilitate regular and continuous communication between FCGs, persons with dementia, and medical personnel to reduce decisional conflicts for EoL care.

A narrative review of facilitating and inhibiting factors in advance care planning initiation in people with dementia

Aim

To identify and assess factors that affect the decisions to initiate advance care planning (ACP) amongst people living with dementia (PwD).

Findings

All articles included for the analysis came from countries that have supportive regulations and guidelines for ACP. ACP initiation amongst PwD is a complex decision that involves several stakeholders who have different knowledge and attitudes of ACP.

Message

More research is required on ACP education, initiation timing given the disease trajectory, and changing family dynamics overtime.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s41999-020-00314-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Purpose of the review

To identify and assess factors that affect the decisions to initiate advance care planning (ACP) amongst people living with dementia (PwD).

Methods

A narrative review was conducted. A keyword search of Medline, CINAHL PsycINFO, and Web of Sciences databases produced 22,234 articles. Four reviewers independently applying inclusion/exclusion criteria resulted in 39 articles. Discrepancies were settled in discussion.

Results

Twenty-eight primary studies and eleven review articles remained. Narrative analysis generated five categories of facilitating and inhibitory factors: people with dementia, family orientation, healthcare professionals (HCP), systemic and contextual factors, and time factors. Key facilitators of ACP initiation were (i) healthcare settings with supportive policies and guidelines, (ii) family members and HCPs who have a supportive relationship with PwD, and (iii) HCPs who received ACP education. Key inhibitors were: (i) lack of knowledge about the dementia trajectory in stakeholders, (ii) lack of ACP knowledge, and (iii) unclear timing to initiate an ACP.

Conclusion

This review highlighted the main challenges associated with optimal ACP initiation with PwD. To encourage effective ACP initiation with PwD, succinct policies and guidelines for clinical commissioners are needed. ACP also needs to be discussed with family members in an informal, iterative manner. More research is required on initiation timing given the disease trajectory and changing family dynamics.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1007/s41999-020-00314-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Consistency in End-of-Life Care Preferences Between Hospitalized Elderly Patients and Their Primary Family Caregivers

PURPOSE

This study explored the consistency between preferences for end-of-life care for elderly hospitalized patients and their primary caregivers and predictors of consistency.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This cross-sectional correlational study recruited 100 dyads of elderly hospitalized patients and their primary caregivers from a medical center in Central Taiwan. A structural questionnaire about preferences for seven end-of-life medical treatment options involved cardiopulmonary resuscitation, intravenous therapy, nasogastric tube feeding, intensive care unit, blood transfusion, tracheotomy, and hemodialysis.

RESULTS

The consistency was 42.28% for preferences of end-of-life medical care between patients and caregivers. The Kappa values for seven life-sustaining medical treatments ranged from 0.001 to 0.155. Logistic regression showed that the predictors of consistency for preferences of treatment were: a patient with a signed living will (odds ratio [OR] = 6.20, p<0.01) and a male family caregiver (OR= 0.23, p<0.01) for cardiopulmonary resuscitation; a patient who visited relatives in the intensive care unit (OR= 2.94, p< 0.05) and a spouse caregiver (OR= 3.07, p< 0.05) for nasogastric tube feeding; a spouse caregiver (OR=3.12, p<0.05) and a caregiver who visited the intensive care unit (OR= 5.50, p<0.01) for tracheotomy; and a spouse caregiver (OR= 2.76, p<0.05) and a caregiver who visited the intensive care unit (OR= 4.42, p<0.05) for hemodialysis.

CONCLUSION

End-of-life medical treatment preferences were inconsistent between patients and family caregivers, which might be influenced by Asian culture, the nature of the relationship and individual experiences. Implementation of advance care planning that respects the patient's autonomy and preferences about end-of-life care is recommended.

The key factors for the engagement of primary stakeholders in decision-making for the future care of people with dementia living in the community: a systematic integrative review

BACKGROUND

Engagement of people with dementia who are living in the community, their family or carers, and healthcare professionals in decision-making related to their future care is an area yet to be explored in the literature. In particular, little is known about the factors most likely to underpin their engagement.

OBJECTIVES

To identify key factors for the engagement of the person with dementia living in the community, as well as their family or carer and their healthcare professionals in decision-making processes related to future care.

DESIGN

This is an integrative review guided by the PRISMA guidelines; the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess study quality. MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Embase databases were searched for articles published from 2012 to 2018 that focused on people with dementia who live in the community, their family or carers, and community-based healthcare professionals.

RESULTS

Twenty articles were included in the review, and six key factors were identified through thematic analysis: knowledge and understanding of dementia and decision-making for the future, valuing decision-making for the future, healthcare professionals' communication skills, timing of initiating conversations, relationship quality, and orientation to the future.

CONCLUSION

This review identifies the six key factors required for the engagement of the three primary key stakeholders in decision-making about the future care of people with dementia. It also situates the factors within the complex context in which people with dementia, their family or carers, and healthcare professionals typically find themselves.