TY - JOUR
T1 - Family conferences in palliative care
T2 - A survey of health care providers in France
AU - Rhondali, Wadih
AU - Dev, Rony
AU - Barbaret, Cécile
AU - Chirac, Anne
AU - Font-Truchet, Celine
AU - Vallet, Fabienne
AU - Bruera, Eduardo
AU - Filbet, Marilene
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
PY - 2014/12/1
Y1 - 2014/12/1
N2 - Context Family conferences are conducted to assist with end-of-life discussions and discharge planning. Objectives This study describes the current practices of family conferences in palliative care units (PCUs) in France. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive survey was sent to each PCU in France (n = 113). Members of the interdisciplinary health care team (palliative care physician, nurse, psychologist, and social worker) who were active in each PCU at the time of the survey were asked to respond. Results Two hundred seventy-six of 452 responses (61%) were obtained from members of the health care team in 91 units (81%). Two hundred seventy-two of 276 health care providers (HCPs) (99%) reported conducting family conferences in their clinical practice. Only 13 participants (5%) reported that they followed a structured protocol. Most respondents completed the questionnaire: palliative care physicians (n = 225; 82%), nurses (n = 219; 79%), and psychologists (n = 181; 66%). The three primary goals of family conferences were to allow family members to express their feelings (n = 240; 87%), identify family caregivers (n = 233; 84%), and discuss the patient's plan of care (n = 219; 79%). The primary reasons for conducting a family conference were: the patient's illness was terminal (n = 216; 78%), family caregivers requested a conference (n = 208; 75%), or terminal sedation was required (n = 189; 69%). One hundred six of 452 HCPs (38%) reported that patients were not invited to participate. The primary indications and goals for a family conference were significantly different among the four health care disciplines. Conclusion Most HCPs in our study conducted family conferences. However, most of the family conferences had no structured protocol, half of the participants preferred no patient participation, and a significant variation was noted in the primary indications and goals among disciplines.
AB - Context Family conferences are conducted to assist with end-of-life discussions and discharge planning. Objectives This study describes the current practices of family conferences in palliative care units (PCUs) in France. Methods A cross-sectional descriptive survey was sent to each PCU in France (n = 113). Members of the interdisciplinary health care team (palliative care physician, nurse, psychologist, and social worker) who were active in each PCU at the time of the survey were asked to respond. Results Two hundred seventy-six of 452 responses (61%) were obtained from members of the health care team in 91 units (81%). Two hundred seventy-two of 276 health care providers (HCPs) (99%) reported conducting family conferences in their clinical practice. Only 13 participants (5%) reported that they followed a structured protocol. Most respondents completed the questionnaire: palliative care physicians (n = 225; 82%), nurses (n = 219; 79%), and psychologists (n = 181; 66%). The three primary goals of family conferences were to allow family members to express their feelings (n = 240; 87%), identify family caregivers (n = 233; 84%), and discuss the patient's plan of care (n = 219; 79%). The primary reasons for conducting a family conference were: the patient's illness was terminal (n = 216; 78%), family caregivers requested a conference (n = 208; 75%), or terminal sedation was required (n = 189; 69%). One hundred six of 452 HCPs (38%) reported that patients were not invited to participate. The primary indications and goals for a family conference were significantly different among the four health care disciplines. Conclusion Most HCPs in our study conducted family conferences. However, most of the family conferences had no structured protocol, half of the participants preferred no patient participation, and a significant variation was noted in the primary indications and goals among disciplines.
KW - Family conferences
KW - end-of-life discussions
KW - palliative care units
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84919838062&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84919838062&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.03.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.03.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 24780185
AN - SCOPUS:84919838062
SN - 0885-3924
VL - 48
SP - 1117
EP - 1124
JO - Journal of pain and symptom management
JF - Journal of pain and symptom management
IS - 6
ER -