Assessment of emergency department staff awareness, access and utilisation of advance care directives and goals of care: A cross-sectional survey.

2022

Osman, Abdi D

Howell, Jocelyn

Smithies, Lisa

Wilson, Damian

Lam, Louisa

Moran, Juli A

Jones, Daryl A

Taylor, David McD

Advance care directives

Advance care planning

Emergency department

Emergency treatment

Goals of care

Journal Article

0000-0002-8104-8019

0000-0003-2655-5234

0000-0002-2942-0637

0000-0002-6446-3595

0000-0002-8986-9997

10.1016/j.auec.2021.12.002

Emergency department staff awareness, access and implementation of advance care directives and goals of care documents and the related patient consent processes are important but not well understood. A cross-sectional survey using purposive sampling was undertaken at a tertiary hospital's Emergency Department from 15th March to 26th April 2021. Participants were recruited through online platforms. Pre-validated questionnaires were distributed by email or as QR codes on bulletin boards. Data collected included staff: demographics, knowledge, access and implementation of advance care directives and goals of care documentation. One hundred thirty-four (28%) of 476 targeted participants responded with nursing forming largest group. Results showed that previous attendance of advance care planning education was low at 20%. Familiarity with advance care directive documentations was only 19% while with goals of care document was average. 61 (48%) respondents reported ease of accessing electronic documents and 21 (19%) reported feeling very comfortable discussing and setting goals of care with patients (p = <0.01). Staff awareness of advance care directive was poor, while awareness of goals of care was average. There was no association between advance care directives awareness and staff age group, gender, length of: - professional practice, practice at the study site.

link

Australasian Emergency Care 2022; 25(3): 235-240

Australasian Emergency Care