TY - JOUR
T1 - A Descriptive Analysis of End-of-Life Conversations With Long-Term Glioblastoma Survivors
AU - Miranda, Stephen P.
AU - Bernacki, Rachelle E.
AU - Paladino, Joanna M.
AU - Norden, Andrew D.
AU - Kavanagh, Jane E.
AU - Palmor, Marissa C.
AU - Block, Susan D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017, © The Author(s) 2017.
PY - 2018/5/1
Y1 - 2018/5/1
N2 - Background: Early, high-quality serious illness (SI) conversations are critical for patients with glioblastoma (GBM) but are often mistimed or mishandled. Objective: To describe the prevalence, timing, and quality of documented SI conversations and evaluate their focus on patient goals/priorities. Design/Participants: Thirty-three patients with GBM enrolled in the control group of a randomized controlled trial of a communication intervention and were followed for 2 years or until death. At baseline, all patients answered a validated question about preferences for life-extending versus comfort-focused care and completed a Life Priorities Survey about their goals/priorities. In this secondary analysis, retrospective chart review was performed for 18 patients with GBM who died. Documented SI conversations were systematically identified and evaluated using a codebook reflecting 4 domains: prognosis, goals/priorities, end-of-life planning, and life-sustaining treatments. Patient goals/priorities were compared to documentation. Measurements/Results: At baseline, 16 of 24 patients preferred life-extending care. In the Life Priorities Survey, goals/priorities most frequently ranked among the top 3 were “Live as long as possible,” “Be mentally aware,” “Provide support for family,” “Be independent,” and “Be at peace.” Fifteen of 18 patients had at least 1 documented SI conversation (range: 1-4). Median timing of the first documented SI conversation was 84 days before death (range: 29-231; interquartile range: 46-119). Fifteen patients had documentation about end-of-life planning, with “hospice” and “palliative care” most frequently documented. Five of 18 patients had documentation about their goals. Conclusion: Patients with GBM had multiple goals/priorities with potential treatment implications, but documentation showed SI conversations occurred relatively late and infrequently reflected patient goals/priorities.
AB - Background: Early, high-quality serious illness (SI) conversations are critical for patients with glioblastoma (GBM) but are often mistimed or mishandled. Objective: To describe the prevalence, timing, and quality of documented SI conversations and evaluate their focus on patient goals/priorities. Design/Participants: Thirty-three patients with GBM enrolled in the control group of a randomized controlled trial of a communication intervention and were followed for 2 years or until death. At baseline, all patients answered a validated question about preferences for life-extending versus comfort-focused care and completed a Life Priorities Survey about their goals/priorities. In this secondary analysis, retrospective chart review was performed for 18 patients with GBM who died. Documented SI conversations were systematically identified and evaluated using a codebook reflecting 4 domains: prognosis, goals/priorities, end-of-life planning, and life-sustaining treatments. Patient goals/priorities were compared to documentation. Measurements/Results: At baseline, 16 of 24 patients preferred life-extending care. In the Life Priorities Survey, goals/priorities most frequently ranked among the top 3 were “Live as long as possible,” “Be mentally aware,” “Provide support for family,” “Be independent,” and “Be at peace.” Fifteen of 18 patients had at least 1 documented SI conversation (range: 1-4). Median timing of the first documented SI conversation was 84 days before death (range: 29-231; interquartile range: 46-119). Fifteen patients had documentation about end-of-life planning, with “hospice” and “palliative care” most frequently documented. Five of 18 patients had documentation about their goals. Conclusion: Patients with GBM had multiple goals/priorities with potential treatment implications, but documentation showed SI conversations occurred relatively late and infrequently reflected patient goals/priorities.
KW - advance care planning
KW - end-of-life care
KW - glioblastoma
KW - goals of care
KW - hospice
KW - palliative care
KW - physician–patient communication
KW - serious illness conversation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042078685&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1049909117738996
DO - 10.1177/1049909117738996
M3 - Article
C2 - 29121789
AN - SCOPUS:85042078685
SN - 1049-9091
VL - 35
SP - 804
EP - 811
JO - American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
JF - American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
IS - 5
ER -