RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 A Group Visit Initiative Improves Advance Care Planning Documentation among Older Adults in Primary Care
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 480
OP 490
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2017.04.170036
VO 30
IS 4
A1 Lum, Hillary D.
A1 Sudore, Rebecca L.
A1 Matlock, Daniel D.
A1 Juarez-Colunga, Elizabeth
A1 Jones, Jacqueline
A1 Nowels, Molly
A1 Schwartz, Robert S.
A1 Kutner, Jean S.
A1 Levy, Cari R.
YR 2017
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/30/4/480.abstract
AB Introduction: Group visits for advance care planning (ACP) may help patients document preferences for decision makers and future care. We assessed the impact of a primary care-based ACP group visit (ACP-GV) intervention on older adults' ACP documentation and why patients participated.Methods: Older adults (>65 years) in primary care participated in a 2-session ACP-GV intervention that promotes group dynamics, peer-based learning, and goal setting. Charts were reviewed at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months for documentation of decision makers and ACP forms. We described patients' reasons for participating through analysis of transcripts.Results: 118 patients (mean age 76 years; 62% female and 82% white) participated in 16 ACP-GV cohorts. From baseline to 3-month follow-up, documentation of decision maker preferences increased from 39% to 81%, and was 89% at 12-month follow-up. Patients with completed ACP forms increased from 20% to 57% at 3 months, and was 67% at 12 months. Reasons for participating included recognizing the importance of ACP, curiosity, participation recommended by primary care provider, desire to talk with family/friends, and desire to complete advance directives.Conclusions: This ACP-GV intervention increased ACP documentation among patients with diverse reasons for participating. This is a patient-centered approach to ACP in primary care.