Advance care planning for adolescent patients with life-threatening neurological conditions: A survey of Japanese paediatric neurologists

Advance care planning for adolescent patients with life-threatening neurological conditions: A survey of Japanese paediatric neurologists

Yotani N;Kizawa Y;Shintaku H

BMJ Paediatrics Open

2017

Advance care planning;neurologic disease;neurologist;pediatrician;Adult;article;artificial ventilation;cross-sectional study;do not resuscitate order;Family;Female;health care survey;hematologist;Human;Japan;living will;Male;Middle Aged;priority journal;prognosis;terminal care

Objective To evaluate current attitudes and barriers to advance care planning for adolescent patients with life-threatening conditions among paediatric neurologists. Design Cross-sectional study. A self-reported questionnaire was administered to assess the practice of advance care planning, advance directives and barriers to advance care planning for adolescent patients with life-threatening conditions. All board-certified paediatric neurologists in Japan were surveyed and those who had experience in taking care of adolescent patients with decision-making capacity were analysed. We compared the results with those of paediatric haematologists reported previously. results In total, 186 paediatric neurologists were analysed. If the patient's prognosis was <3 months, only about 30% of paediatric neurologists reported having discussions with patients, such as 'do not attempt resuscitation' orders (28%) and ventilator use (32%), whereas more than 70% did discuss these topics with patients' families. About half of the paediatric neurologists did not discuss advance directives at the end of life with their patients, whereas over 75% did discuss advance directives with patients' families. Compared with paediatric haematologists, paediatric neurologists had more end-of-life discussions with patients, such as where treatment and care will take place, do not attempt resuscitation orders, and the use of a ventilator, if the patient's prognosis was >>1 year. conclusion About half or less of the paediatric neurologists discussed advance care planning and advance directives with their adolescent patients who had life-threatening conditions, even if the patient's prognosis was <3 months. They tended to discuss advance care planning and advance directives more with families than with patients themselves.

Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

November 2018 List