An e-Delphi Study to Identify Priority Areas for Education on Advance Care Planning in COPD Management.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with COPD typically experience a gradual deterioration in health, with exacerbations and increased health-care utilization in the years before death. As such, adequate planning of future care is necessary. The objective of this research was to identify gaps in health-care professionals' knowledge related to advance care planning (ACP) for patients with COPD and to prioritize content of future educational interventions for health-care professionals accordingly. METHODS: A modified e-Delphi technique with 2 rounds of rating was used. After a literature review and expert consultation, a multidisciplinary panel developed 40 statements. Statements that did not achieve consensus in round 1 were re-presented in round 2, together with new statements developed after participant feedback. Health-care professionals with expertise in caring for people with COPD were asked to rate the importance of including each of the 40 topics in future educational interventions related to ACP and COPD by using a 5-point Likert scale. Average scores for each topic were calculated and expressed as percentages. Consensus on each topic was achieved if it obtained a score of ≥80%. RESULTS: Thirty-eight health-care professionals were invited to participate, of whom, 21 (55%) took part in both rounds. Consensus was achieved for 32 of 40 statements (80%) in round 1 and for 5 of 10 statements (50%) in round 2. All statements relating to "COPD and palliative care" and "legislation for ACP" achieved consensus after one round. CONCLUSIONS: This study uncovered specific topics that related to ACP and COPD that health-care professionals believe should be included in future educational interventions. In particular, there is a clear need for training that addresses the legal issues surrounding ACP, and information on the best timing and content of ACP discussions with patients with COPD. Such training may enable health-care professionals to incorporate ACP into routine COPD management and, ultimately, improve patient care.

Advance Care Planning for Individuals With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

CONTEXT: Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) typically experience a gradual worsening of the illness in the years before death. Owing to difficulties in predicting the disease trajectory or the timing of acute exacerbations, advance care planning (ACP) may be of particular importance for individuals with COPD. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to review and summarize the available literature on current practices around ACP in COPD. METHODS: A scoping review of the literature was conducted following the Arksey and O'Malley framework. Original research studies of any design were included. RESULTS: Twenty-eight studies were included. Across studies, there was agreement that ACP should be incorporated into routine COPD management. There was evidence that this does not occur in everyday practice, with conversations tending to focus on day-to-day symptom management. Barriers included prognosis uncertainty, insufficient time and training, and a lack of protocols for who is responsible for initiating ACP. Facilitators included the use of transition points for identifying the appropriate time to initiate ACP, and an increased focus on ACP in professional education. The occurrence of repeated episodes of acute care was identified as a key transition point for identifying the palliative stage of COPD and an appropriate time to initiate ACP. CONCLUSION: The findings of this review confirm agreement among health care professionals and patients with COPD and their carers that ACP should be incorporated into routine COPD management. The use of transition points may help health care professionals overcome the barrier of prognosis uncertainty and identify patients who might benefit from ACP.

Advance care planning in COPD: guidance development for healthcare professionals.

OBJECTIVES: To examine current practices, attitudes and levels of confidence related to advance care planning (ACP) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) among healthcare professionals working in Ireland. This will inform future clinical guidance development. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of healthcare professionals. RESULTS: There were 143 participants (109 general practitioners, 25 nurses, 7 physiotherapists and 2 consultant physicians). The majority (82%, n=117) cared for patients with COPD weekly, but only 23% (n=33) had initiated ACP with a patient with COPD over the previous 6 months. Overall, 59% (n=85) answered ≥6 of 8 general knowledge questions correctly. Participants demonstrated positive attitudes towards ACP (mean score 3.6/5.0), but confidence levels were low (2.2/4.0). Most thought ACP was appropriate for patients with severe or very severe COPD (71%, n=101%, and 91%, n=130, respectively) but were unsure or felt that it was not appropriate for those with mild-moderate COPD. However, almost all participants (97%, n=139) stated that if a patient expressed a desire to have ACP discussions, they would comply. Topics most likely to be discussed related to diagnosis and treatment options. Death and end-of-life issues were rarely discussed. The death of a family member or friend and participation in support groups were identified as new 'triggers' for initiating ACP. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted education to improve general knowledge and confidence levels among healthcare professionals, together with initiatives to increase public awareness of ACP so that patients themselves might be more inclined to start the discussion, may help increase the uptake of ACP for this patient group.