Advance Care Planning for patients with advanced illnesses attending hospital outpatient clinics

Project Status
Completed

Chief Investigators
A/Prof Joel Rhee, A/Prof Gideon Caplan, Ms Anne Meller, A/Prof Peter Gonski, A/Prof Vasi Naganathan, Dr John Cullen, Prof Nicholas Zwar, Prof Andrew Hayen, Ms Julie-Ann O’Keefe, A/Prof Ben Harris-Roxas

Other team members
Dr Karolina Krysinska, Ms Kate Marshall, Ms Melissa Cassey (SLHD), Ms Emily Mackinlay (SESLHD), Ms Catherine Molihan (SESLHD)

Project Rationale

Hospital wards are not ideal setting for ACP and there is evidence that ACP decisions made when acutely unwell differ from decisions made when medically stable, so outpatient clinics are a better setting in which to conduct ACP. There is however lack of training and support for staff working in outpatient clinics to firstly identify patients who may benefit from ACP, and secondly to facilitate ACP.

Project Aim/s

This research aims to trial and evaluate on patients attending NSW hospital clinics with advanced illnesses identified as potentially having supportive and palliative care needs, a model of ACP that seeks to: (i) increase the uptake of ACP by patients; and (ii) encourage NSW Health clinical services and GPs and other health professionals providing care for the patients to incorporate ACP into routine care.  

This study seeks to determine if this model of ACP will reduce acute health resources utilisation; improve the quality of care for patients and caregivers / family; and result in improved understanding and uptake of ACP by health professionals.

Project Design and Method

Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial

Publications

Study protocol paper in preparation