UCSF

Context

Little is known about advance care planning (ACP) among community-dwelling patients with dementia.

Objectives

To describe aspects of ACP among patients with dementia and examine the association between ACP and health care proxy (HCP) acceptance of patients' illness.

Methods

Cross-sectional observational survey of 62 HCPs of patients with dementia (N = 14 mild, N = 48 moderate/severe), from seven outpatient geriatric and memory disorder clinics in Boston. Aspects of ACP included HCP's report of patients' preferences for level of future care, communication with HCP and physician regarding care preferences, and proxy preparedness for shared decision making. The association between ACP and HCP acceptance with patients' illness was examined using the Peace, Equanimity, and Acceptance subscale of the Cancer Experience Scale.

Results

Eleven percent of proxies believed that the patient would want life-prolonging treatment, 31% a time-limited trial of curative treatment, and 47% comfort-focused care. Thirty-one percent reported that the patient had communicated with their physician regarding preferences for care, and 77% had communicated with the HCP. Forty-four percent of HCPs wanted more discussion with the patient regarding care preferences. The HCP having discussed care preferences with the patient was associated with greater acceptance of the patient's illness (P = 0.004).

Conclusion

Our findings support need for greater ACP discussions between patients and proxies. Discussions regarding goals of care are likely to benefit patients through delivery of care congruent with their wishes and HCPs in terms of greater acceptance of patients' illness.