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Umberfield EE, Fields MC, Lenko R, Morgan TP, Adair ES, Fromme EK, Lum HD, Moss AH, Wenger NS, Sudore RL, Hickman SE. An Integrative Review of the State of POLST Science: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go? J Am Med Dir Assoc 2024; 25:557-564.e8. [PMID: 38395413 PMCID: PMC10996838 DOI: 10.1016/j.jamda.2024.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES POLST is widely used in the care of seriously ill patients to document decisions made during advance care planning (ACP) conversations as actionable medical orders. We conducted an integrative review of existing research to better understand associations between POLST use and key ACP outcomes as well as to identify directions for future research. DESIGN Integrative review. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Not applicable. METHODS We queried PubMed and CINAHL databases using names of POLST programs to identify research on POLST. We abstracted study information and assessed study design quality. Study outcomes were categorized using the international ACP Outcomes Framework: Process, Action, Quality of Care, Health Status, and Healthcare Utilization. RESULTS Of 94 POLST studies identified, 38 (40%) had at least a moderate level of study design quality and 15 (16%) included comparisons between POLST vs non-POLST patient groups. There was a significant difference between groups for 40 of 70 (57%) ACP outcomes. The highest proportion of significant outcomes was in Quality of Care (15 of 19 or 79%). In subdomain analyses of Quality of Care, POLST use was significantly associated with concordance between treatment and documentation (14 of 18 or 78%) and preferences concordant with documentation (1 of 1 or 100%). The Action outcome domain had the second highest positive rate among outcome domains; 9 of 12 (75%) Action outcomes were significant. Healthcare Utilization outcomes were the most frequently assessed and approximately half (16 of 35 or 46%) were significant. Health Status outcomes were not significant (0 of 4 or 0%), and no Process outcomes were identified. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Findings of this review indicate that POLST use is significantly associated with a Quality of Care and Action outcomes, albeit in nonrandomized studies. Future research on POLST should focus on prospective mixed methods studies and high-quality pragmatic trials that assess a broad range of person and health system-level outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Umberfield
- Division of Nursing Research, Department of Nursing, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Artificial Intelligence and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Matthew C Fields
- School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication and Training (RESPECT) Signature Center, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Rachel Lenko
- Department of Nursing, School of Health, Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Teryn P Morgan
- Center for Biomedical Informatics, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of BioHealth Informatics, School of Informatics and Computing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Erik K Fromme
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA; Ariadne Labs at Brigham and Women's Hospital and the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hillary D Lum
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Alvin H Moss
- Center for Health Ethics and Law, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV, USA; Divisions of Nephrology and Palliative Medicine, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - Neil S Wenger
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rebecca L Sudore
- Division of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Susan E Hickman
- School of Nursing, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication and Training (RESPECT) Signature Center, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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Ludwick R, Baughman KR. Education, Policy, and Advocacy in Predicting Use of Do-Not-Hospitalize Orders in Skilled Nursing Facilities. J Gerontol Nurs 2022; 48:45-52. [PMID: 36286504 DOI: 10.3928/00989134-20221003-04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Nurses and social workers are uniquely positioned to advocate for patients' wishes for do-not-hospitalize (DNH) directives. The purpose of the current study was to explore the impact of DNH education, policy, and advocacy on the use of DNH orders by nurses (RNs and licensed practical nurses [LPNs]) and social workers employed in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). This multisite secondary analysis used cross-sectional survey data and analyzed responses of RNs, LPNs, and social workers (N = 354) from 29 urban SNFs. Mixed model regression was used to examine possible predictors of frequency of DNH orders within SNFs while adjusting for random effects. Results showed that having a DNH written policy, education on DNH orders, and having an advanced care planning advocate in the facility were strongly associated with a higher reported frequency of DNH discussions with residents and their families (p < 0.01 for each variable). [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 48(11), 45-52.].
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Jennings LA, Wenger NS, Liang LJ, Parikh P, Powell D, Escarce JJ, Zingmond D. Care preferences in physician orders for life sustaining treatment in California nursing homes. J Am Geriatr Soc 2022; 70:2040-2050. [PMID: 35275398 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.17737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) facilitates documentation and transition of patients' life-sustaining treatment orders across care settings. Little is known about patient and facility factors related to care preferences within POLST across a large, diverse nursing home population. We describe the orders within POLST among all nursing home (NH) residents in California from 2011 to 2016. METHODS California requires NHs to document in the Minimum Data Set whether residents complete a POLST and orders within POLST. Using a serial cross-sectional design for each year, we describe POLST completion and orders for all California NH residents from 2011 to 2016 (N = 1,112,668). We used logistic mixed-effects regression models to estimate POLST completion and resuscitation orders to understand the relationship with resident and facility characteristics, including Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Nursing Home Compare overall five-star quality rating. RESULTS POLST completion significantly increased from 2011 to 2016 with most residents having a POLST in 2016 (short-stay:68%; long-stay:81%). Among those with a POLST in 2016, 54% of long-stay and 41% of short-stay residents had a DNR order. Among residents with DNR, >90% had orders for limited medical interventions or comfort measures. Few residents (<6%) had a POLST with contradictory orders. In regression analyses, POLST completion was greater among residents with more functional dependence, but was lower among those with more cognitive impairment. Greater functional and cognitive impairment were associated with DNR orders. Racial and ethnic minorities indicated more aggressive care preferences. Higher CMS five-star facility quality rating was associated with greater POLST completion. CONCLUSIONS Six years after a state mandate to document POLST completion in NHs, most California NH residents have a POLST, and about half of long-stay residents have orders to limit life-sustaining treatment. Future work should focus on determining the quality of care preference decisions documented in POLST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee A Jennings
- Reynolds Section of Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Neil S Wenger
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Li-Jung Liang
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Punam Parikh
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | | | - Jose J Escarce
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David Zingmond
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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In der Schmitten J, Jox RJ, Pentzek M, Marckmann G. Advance care planning by proxy in German nursing homes: Descriptive analysis and policy implications. J Am Geriatr Soc 2021; 69:2122-2131. [PMID: 33951187 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.17147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Legally recognized advance directives (ADs) have to be signed by the person to whom the decisions apply. In practice, however, there are also ADs written and signed by legal proxies (surrogates) on behalf of patients who lack decision-making capacity. Given their practical relevance and substantial ethical and legal implications, ADs by proxy (AD-Ps) have received surprisingly little scientific attention so far. OBJECTIVES To study the form, content, validity, and applicability of AD-Ps among German nursing home residents and develop policy implications. METHODS Secondary analysis of two independent cross-sectional studies in three German cities, comprising 21 nursing homes and 1528 residents. The identified AD-Ps were analyzed in parallel by three independent raters. Inter-rater agreement was measured using free-marginal multi-rater kappa statistics. RESULTS Altogether, 46 AD-Ps were identified and pooled for analysis. On average (range), AD-Ps were 1 (1-7) year(s) old, 0.5 (0.25-4) pages long, signed by 1 (0-5) person, with evidence of legal proxy involvement in 35%, and signed by a physician in 20% of cases. Almost all the AD-Ps reviewed aimed to limit life-sustaining treatment (LST), but had widely varying content and ethical justifications, including references to earlier statements (30%) or actual behavior (11%). The most frequent explicit directives were: do-not-hospitalize (67%), do-not-tube-feed (37%), do-not-attempt-resuscitation (20%), and the general exclusion of any LST (28%). Inter-rater agreement was mostly moderate (kappa ≥0.6) or strong (kappa ≥0.8). CONCLUSIONS Although AD-Ps are an empirical reality in German nursing homes, formal standards for such directives are lacking and their ethical justification based on substituted judgment or best interest standard often remains unclear. A qualified advance care planning process and corresponding documentation are required in order to safeguard the appropriate use of this important instrument and ensure adherence to ethico-legal standards.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ralf J Jox
- Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Chair in Geriatric Palliative Care, Palliative and Supportive Care Service, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Michael Pentzek
- Institute of General Practice (ifam), Centre for Health and Society (chs), Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Georg Marckmann
- Institute of Ethics, History and Theory of Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Tolle SW. Aligning POLST orders with wishes: Time to put evidence into practice. J Am Geriatr Soc 2021; 69:1801-1804. [PMID: 33826762 PMCID: PMC8360100 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.17150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan W Tolle
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Oregon Health & Science University Center for Ethics in Health Care, Portland, Oregon, USA
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Hickman SE, Torke AM, Heim Smith N, Myers AL, Sudore RL, Hammes BJ, Sachs GA. Reasons for discordance and concordance between POLST orders and current treatment preferences. J Am Geriatr Soc 2021; 69:1933-1940. [PMID: 33760226 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.17097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The reasons for discordance between advance care planning (ACP) documentation and current preferences are not well understood. The POLST form offers a unique opportunity to learn about the reasons for discordance and concordance that has relevance for POLST as well as ACP generally. DESIGN Qualitative descriptive including constant comparative analysis within and across cases. SETTING Twenty-six nursing facilities in Indiana. PARTICIPANTS Residents (n = 36) and surrogate decision-makers of residents without decisional capacity (n = 37). MEASUREMENTS A semi-structured interview guide was used to explore the reasons for discordance or concordance between current preferences and existing POLST forms. FINDINGS Reasons for discordance include: (1) problematic nursing facility practices related to POLST completion; (2) missing key information about POLST treatment decisions; (3) deferring to others; and (4) changes over time. Some participants were unable to explain the discordance due to a lack of insight or inability to remember details of the original POLST conversation. Explanations for concordance include: (1) no change in the resident's medical condition and/or the resident is unlikely to improve; (2) use of the substituted judgment standard for surrogate decision-making; and (3) fixed opinion about what is "right" with little to no insight. CONCLUSION Participant explanations for discordance between existing POLST orders and current preferences highlight the importance of adequate structures and processes to support high quality ACP in nursing facilities. Residents with stable or poor health may be more appropriate candidates for POLST than residents with a less clear prognosis, though preferences should be revisited periodically as well as when there is a change in condition to help ensure existing documentation is concordant with current treatment preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Hickman
- Department of Community and Health Systems, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication and Training (RESPECT) Signature Center, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Alexia M Torke
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication and Training (RESPECT) Signature Center, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Nicholette Heim Smith
- Department of Community and Health Systems, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Anne L Myers
- Department of Community and Health Systems, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Rebecca L Sudore
- Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Bernard J Hammes
- Respecting Choices, A Division of C-TAC Innovations, La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Greg A Sachs
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication and Training (RESPECT) Signature Center, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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Hickman SE, Torke AM, Sachs GA, Sudore RL, Tang Q, Bakoyannis G, Heim Smith N, Myers AL, Hammes BJ. Factors associated with concordance between POLST orders and current treatment preferences. J Am Geriatr Soc 2021; 69:1865-1876. [PMID: 33760241 DOI: 10.1111/jgs.17095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND POLST is widely used to document the treatment preferences of nursing facility residents as orders, but it is unknown how well previously completed POLST orders reflect current preferences (concordance) and what factors are associated with concordance. OBJECTIVES To describe POLST preference concordance and identify factors associated with concordance. DESIGN Chart reviews to document existing POLST orders and interviews to elicit current treatment preferences. SETTING POLST-using nursing facilities (n = 29) in Indiana. PARTICIPANTS Nursing facility residents (n = 123) and surrogates of residents without decisional capacity (n = 152). MEASUREMENTS Concordance was determined by comparing existing POLST orders for resuscitation, medical interventions, and artificial nutrition with current treatment preferences. Comfort-focused POLSTs contained orders for do not resuscitate, comfort measures, and no artificial nutrition. RESULTS Overall, 55.7% (123/221) of residents and 44.7% (152/340) of surrogates participated (total n = 275). POLST concordance was 44%, but concordance was higher for comfort-focused POLSTs (68%) than for non-comfort-focused POLSTs (27%) (p < 0.001). In the unadjusted analysis, increasing resident age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.07, p < 0.01), better cognitive functioning (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.13, p < 0.01), surrogate as the decision-maker (OR 2.87, OR 1.73-4.75, p < 0.001), and comfort-focused POLSTs (OR 6.01, 95% CI 3.29-11.00, p < 0.01) were associated with concordance. In the adjusted multivariable model, only having an existing comfort-focused POLST was associated with higher odds of POLST concordance (OR 5.28, 95% CI 2.59-10.73, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Less than half of all POLST forms were concordant with current preferences, but POLST was over five times as likely to be concordant when orders reflected preferences for comfort-focused care. Findings suggest a clear need to improve the quality of POLST use in nursing facilities and focus its use among residents with stable, comfort-focused preferences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan E Hickman
- Department of Community & Health Systems, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication & Training (RESPECT) Signature Center, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Alexia M Torke
- Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication & Training (RESPECT) Signature Center, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Greg A Sachs
- Research in Palliative and End-of-Life Communication & Training (RESPECT) Signature Center, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Rebecca L Sudore
- Division of Geriatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Qing Tang
- Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Giorgos Bakoyannis
- Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.,Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Nicholette Heim Smith
- Department of Community & Health Systems, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Anne L Myers
- Department of Community & Health Systems, Indiana University School of Nursing, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Bernard J Hammes
- A Division of C-TAC Innovations, Respecting Choices, La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA
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Kurin M, Mirarchi F. The living will: Patients should be informed of the risks. J Healthc Risk Manag 2021; 41:31-39. [PMID: 33496056 DOI: 10.1002/jhrm.21459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Living wills are designed to ensure that patients' preferences will be respected at the end of life should they lose capacity to make decisions. However, data on living will use suggest there are barriers to achieving this objective. Moreover, there is evidence that completion of a living will creates a risk of an unwanted outcome: the potential for premature withdrawal of interventions. We suggest a multifaceted approach to improve the ability of living wills to achieve their goals. However, acknowledgment of the current reality should oblige providers offering a living will to their patients to present a balanced view of living wills that includes enumeration of the risk, barriers to achieving the purported benefits, and alternatives to completing a living will, in addition to discussion of the potential benefits. This requires a change in current practice that would encourage shared decision making regarding whether completing a living will or other type of advance directive is desired by the patient and discourage the proliferation of living wills completed without providing these important advantages and disadvantages to the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kurin
- Digestive Health Institute, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Ferdinando Mirarchi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hamot, Erie, Pennsylvania, USA
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