Descriptive characteristics of the facilitated ACP intervention
| Metropolitan site | Rural site | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N=48 participants | N=58 participants | |||
| N=32 discussions | N=109 discussions | |||
| Timing of first ACP discussion (% of participants) | ||||
| N (%) <14 days postconsent | 22 (46%) | 58 (100%) | ||
| N (%) 14–60 days postconsent | 7 (15%) | – | ||
| N (%) >60 days postconsent | 2 (4%) | – | ||
| Number of nurse-led ACP discussions (% of participants) | ||||
| N (%) no discussions | 17 (35%) | – | ||
| N (%) one discussion | 29 (60%) | 18 (31%) | ||
| N (%) two discussions | 2 (4%) | 29 (50%) | ||
| N (%) three or more discussions | – | 11 (19%) | ||
| People involved in ACP discussion (% of participants) | ||||
| N (%) with family/carer present once or more | 20 (42%) | 21 (36%) | ||
| Duration of ACP discussions (% of discussions) | ||||
| N (%) <45 min | 7 (22%) | 87 (80%) | ||
| N (%) 45–90 min | 22 (69%) | 22 (20%) | ||
| N (%) >90 min | 2 (6%) | – | ||
| Location of ACP discussion (% of discussions) | ||||
| N (%) discussions inpatient setting | 2 (6%) | 8 (7%) | ||
| N (%) discussions outpatient setting | 30 (94%) | 1 (1%) | ||
| N (%) discussions general practice clinic | – | 12 (11%) | ||
| N (%) discussions home visit | – | 65 (60%) | ||
| N (%) discussions telephone call | – | 23 (21%) | ||
| ACP domains discussed (% of discussions) | Partly | Partly or fully | Partly | Partly or fully |
| N (%) understanding current health state | 32 (100%) | 31 (97%) | 109 (100%) | 84 (77%) |
| N (%) understanding prognosis | 32 (100%) | 17 (53%) | 103 (95%) | 56 (51%) |
| N (%) perspective on ‘living well’ | 32 (100%) | 28 (88%) | 109 (100%) | 109 (100%) |
| N (%) understanding future treatments | 32 (100%) | 31 (97%) | 105 (96%) | 64 (59%) |
| N (%) values and goals of care | 32 (100%) | 29 (91%) | 108 (99%) | 102 (94%) |
| N (%) wishes for critical care | 32 (100%) | 32 (100%) | 103 (94%) | 64 (59%) |
| N (%) wishes for “trial of treatment” | 30 (94%) | 25 (78%) | 79 (72%) | 44 (40%) |
| N (%) cultural, spiritual, religious beliefs | 31 (97%) | 21 (66%) | 56 (51%) | 21 (19%) |
Proportions are calculated ‘by participant’ (number of participants as a proportion of the 106 participants assigned to receive the facilitated ACP intervention) or ‘by discussion’ (number of discussions as a proportion of the 141 ACP discussions conducted by the nurse ACP facilitators).
The discussions undertaken by the nurse ACP facilitators as part of the intervention are separate from the outcome measures of ACP discussions with loved ones and doctors.
ACP, advance care planning.