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Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is becoming increasingly important in medical care. Some suggest standardized approaches to initiate ACP with all older adults. However, the idea of patient-centered care suggests more nuanced approaches tailored to individual older adults' needs. This study investigated how older adults with different views and needs about ACP can be approached in an adequate and most beneficial way by health care professionals., Methods: We used questionnaires, interviews, focus groups and informal conversations with older adults, living in their own homes, who volunteered to take part in our research. The research was participatory as we collaborated closely with practice partners and we used the obtained findings immediately and continuously to inform the next steps of our research throughout the process., Results: We identified three subgroups of older adults with differential needs regarding ACP-related activities: The first group avoids talking about their needs and wishes for care towards the end of life. These older people benefit from activities, which aim at motivating them to concern themselves with ACP-related topics. The second group consists of older adults who are in principle open for ACP-conversations but do not initiate these themselves. This group either trusts their next-of-kin or their healthcare professional to act in accordance with their wishes or does not bring up the topic in order to avoid confronting relevant others with possibly unpleasant topics. This group of people benefits from information about ACP and from healthcare professionals initiating the ACP process. The third group of older people initiates the ACP process themselves, gathers information, and takes the necessary steps for ACP. With this group it remains relevant to check carefully whether they have indeed taken all relevant steps and shared the information with all relevant involved care institutions and relatives., Conclusions: We propose a model to simplify adjustments of ACP to individuals' needs. Our suggested approach might contribute to increasing the motivation of older people to engage in ACP conversations if these are more closely related to their own needs. Further, it might also contribute to simplifying the individual shaping of the ACP process for healthcare professionals as our suggested model offers clear guidance for approaching different types of older people in different ways. The suggested approach may in future be used for training health care professionals in the conduct of ACP conversations., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: General practitioners (GPs) are advised to offer advance care planning (ACP) to people with dementia (PWD). In a randomized controlled trial, an educational intervention for GPs aimed at initiating and optimizing ACP proved to be effective. During the intervention most GPs were accompanied by their practice nurse (PN). To provide insights into the intervention's successful components and what could be improved, we conducted a process evaluation and explored implementation, mechanisms of impact and contextual factors., Methods: We used the Medical Research Council guidance for process evaluations. Implementation was explored identifying reach and acceptability. We performed descriptive analyses of participants' characteristics; selection, inclusion and intervention attendance; a GP post-intervention survey on initiating ACP; a post intervention focus group with trainers of the intervention. Mechanisms of impact were explored identifying adoption and appropriateness. We used: participants' intervention ratings; a GP post-intervention survey on conducting ACP; ACP documentation in PWD's medical files; post-intervention interviews with PWD/FC dyads. All data was used to identify contextual factors., Results: The intervention was implemented by a small percentage of the total Dutch GP population invited, who mostly included motivated PWD/FC dyads with relatively little burden, and PWD with limited cognitive decline. The mechanisms of impact for GPs were: interactively learning to initiate ACP with training actors with a heterogeneous group of GPs and PNs. For PWD/FCs dyads, discussing non-medical preferences was most essential regarding their SDM experience and QoL. Some dyads however found ACP stressful and not feasible. Younger female GPs more often initiated ACP. Male PWD and those with mild dementia more often had had ACP. These characteristics and the safe and intimate training setting, were important contextual facilitators., Conclusion: We recommend Interventions aimed at improving ACP initiation with PWD by GPs to include interactive components and discussion of non-medical preferences. A safe environment and a heterogeneous group of participants facilitates such interventions. However, in practice not all FC/PWD dyads will be ready to start. Therefore, it is necessary to check their willingness when ACP is offered.

Background: ACP enables individuals to define and discuss goals and preferences for future medical treatment and care with family and healthcare providers, and to record these goals and preferences if appropriate. Because general practitioners (GPs) often have long-lasting relationships with people with dementia, GPs seem most suited to initiate ACP. However, ACP with people with dementia in primary care is uncommon. Although several barriers and facilitators to ACP with people with dementia have already been identified in earlier research, evidence gaps still exist. We therefore aimed to further explore barriers and facilitators for ACP with community-dwelling people with dementia., Methods: A qualitative design, involving all stakeholders in the care for community-dwelling people with dementia, was used. We conducted semi-structured interviews with community dwelling people with dementia and their family caregivers, semi structured interviews by telephone with GPs and a focus group meeting with practice nurses and case managers. Content analysis was used to define codes, categories and themes., Results: Ten face to face interviews, 10 interviews by telephone and one focus group interview were conducted. From this data, three themes were derived: development of a trust-based relationship, characteristics of an ACP conversation and the primary care setting. ACP is facilitated by a therapeutic relationship between the person with dementia/family caregiver and the GP built on trust, preferably in the context of home visits. Addressing not only medical but also non-medical issues soon after the dementia diagnosis is given is an important facilitator during conversation. Key barriers were: the wish of some participants to postpone ACP until problems arise, GPs' time restraints, concerns about the documentation of ACP outcomes and concerns about the availability of these outcomes to other healthcare providers., Conclusions: ACP is facilitated by an open relationship based on trust between the GP, the person with dementia and his/her family caregiver, in which both medical and non-medical issues are addressed. GPs' availability and time restraints are barriers to ACP. Transferring ACP tasks to case managers or practice nurses may contribute to overcoming these barriers.