General practitioners' views of advance care planning: a questionnaire-based study.
Advance care
Advance care plans
Clinical decision making
End of life
End of life care
Family doctor
Family doctors
Family medicine
Frailty
General practice
General practitioner
General practitioners
Palliative care
Primary care
Terminal care
Journal
Irish journal of medical science
ISSN: 1863-4362
Titre abrégé: Ir J Med Sci
Pays: Ireland
ID NLM: 7806864
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Feb 2022
Feb 2022
Historique:
received:
07
01
2021
accepted:
08
02
2021
pubmed:
25
2
2021
medline:
28
1
2022
entrez:
24
2
2021
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Planning for end of life (EOL) care has become an important consideration for doctors and patients in the context of longer life expectancy in most high-income countries. Advance care plans (ACPs) allow individuals to make plans for future healthcare practices for when they no longer have the capacity to make such decisions. It has been suggested that general practitioners (GPs) have the ideal relationship with patients to facilitate this process. However, the uptake of ACPs still remains low, prompting the need to understand the views of GPs regarding ACPs. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of GPs regarding ACPs and to identify barriers in implementing ACPs into practice. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with GPs in county Cork and Kerry. A questionnaire was adapted from two previously published studies, piloted and posted to GPs. Two hundred thirty-seven questionnaires were posted. Seventy-five questionnaires were completed, representing a 31.7% response rate. Findings revealed that GPs have positive attitudes towards ACPS, although there is an inadequate understanding of ACPs. In particular, GPs are challenged by defining the right moment to initiate EOL discussions, their patients' unawareness of ACPs, and lack of time during consultations. In order to improve their implementation, workshops and courses should be developed to increase GPs' knowledge and confidence. Additionally, the healthcare system should be adapted, supporting GPs to facilitate these important discussions to take place.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Planning for end of life (EOL) care has become an important consideration for doctors and patients in the context of longer life expectancy in most high-income countries. Advance care plans (ACPs) allow individuals to make plans for future healthcare practices for when they no longer have the capacity to make such decisions. It has been suggested that general practitioners (GPs) have the ideal relationship with patients to facilitate this process. However, the uptake of ACPs still remains low, prompting the need to understand the views of GPs regarding ACPs.
AIM
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and attitudes of GPs regarding ACPs and to identify barriers in implementing ACPs into practice.
DESIGN AND SETTING
METHODS
A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted with GPs in county Cork and Kerry.
METHODS
METHODS
A questionnaire was adapted from two previously published studies, piloted and posted to GPs. Two hundred thirty-seven questionnaires were posted.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Seventy-five questionnaires were completed, representing a 31.7% response rate. Findings revealed that GPs have positive attitudes towards ACPS, although there is an inadequate understanding of ACPs. In particular, GPs are challenged by defining the right moment to initiate EOL discussions, their patients' unawareness of ACPs, and lack of time during consultations.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSIONS
In order to improve their implementation, workshops and courses should be developed to increase GPs' knowledge and confidence. Additionally, the healthcare system should be adapted, supporting GPs to facilitate these important discussions to take place.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33624226
doi: 10.1007/s11845-021-02554-x
pii: 10.1007/s11845-021-02554-x
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
253-262Informations de copyright
© 2021. Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.
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