An Interventional Study for the Early Identification of Patients With Palliative Care Needs and the Promotion of Advance Care Planning and Advance Directives

Abstract

ContextPrograms identifying patients needing palliative care and promoting advance care planning (ACP) are rare in Asia. ObjectivesThis interventional cohort study aimed to identify hospitalized patients with palliative care needs using a validated palliative care screening tool (PCST), examine the ability of the PCST to predict mortality, and explore effects of a pragmatic ACP program targeted by PCST on the utilization of life-sustaining treatment during the last three months of life. MethodsIn this prospective study, we used PCST to evaluate patients' palliative care needs between 2015 and 2016 and followed patients for three months. ACP with advance directives (ADs) was systematically offered to all patients with PCST score ≥4. ResultsOf 47,153 hospitalized patients, 10.4% had PCST score ≥4. During follow-up, 2121 individuals died within three months of palliative care screening: 1225 (25.0%) with PCST score ≥4 and 896 (2.1%) with PCST score <4. After controlling for covariates, PCST score ≥4 was significantly associated with a higher mortality within three months of screening (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 6.86; 95% CI 6.16–7.63). Moreover, ACP consultation (AOR 0.78; 95% CI 0.66–0.92) and AD completion (AOR 0.49; 95% CI 0.36–0.65) were associated with a lower likelihood of receiving life-sustaining treatments during the last three months of life. ConclusionWe demonstrated the feasibility of implementing a comprehensive palliative care program to identify patients with palliative care needs and promote ACP and AD in Eastern Asia. ACP consultation and AD completion were associated with reduced utilization of life-sustaining treatments during the last three months of life.