Advance care planning in an interracial dyad: Case illustration of an intervention to improve engagement in end-of-life care planning.

Abstract

Key Points Prognostic understanding among advanced cancer patients is associated with higher levels of engagement in advance care planning (ACP), preference for comfort over aggressive care, and receipt of goal‐concordant care, but few patients have accurate prognostic understanding. Talking about Cancer (TAC) is a communication‐based intervention for advanced cancer patients and their caregivers designed to improve shared accurate prognostic understanding. This case study describes the use of TAC with an interracial friend dyad for whom medical mistrust and experienced bias on the part of the patient significantly impacted interactions with the medical team. Using TAC strategies, this dyad was able to improve communication with the oncology team and each other and engage in ACP.