Advance Care Planning (ACP): Role of Occupational Therapy Practitioners
Authors:
Kate Aufort, OT, OTD, OTR, Kristen Kennefick, MA, Keren Ladin, PhD, MSc
Abstract:
Early discussions/documentation regarding preferences for future medical planning and late-life care, known as advance care planning (ACP), are critical. Significant barriers to ACP have been identified: role ambiguity and uncertainty, institutional barriers, clinicians questioning value of ACP, avoidance of ACP. Qualitative study informed changes to existing healthcare decision aid based on clinician/patient perspectives. Four themes emerged: (1) openness to web-based education, (2) capacity of DART-ACP to engage patients, (3) difficulty conveying granularity of EOL decisions, and (4) desire for more info on palliative care. Question of OT practitioners’ role in ACP was raised. Next steps: qualitative interviews with OT practitioners regarding scope, facilitators and barriers of ACP, training OTs to use decision aids, developing ACP OT CEUs, and facilitating ACP action steps with patients.
Key Words:
Advance Care Planning, Chronic Kidney Disease, Decision Aid