None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Advanced care planning is an important aspect of care of the elderly population. The study plans to investigate how comfortable patients and doctors are discussing this in the Emergency Department and to establish patient awareness, pre-existing advanced care directives, who patients and doctors believe to be the best person to discuss this with and identify any barriers towards discussion in the Emergency Department. By identifying these patient and doctor perceptions, we can improve discussion of advanced care planning and overall patient care.
Interventions
Comparison between Emergency patients over 70 and medical doctors in the Emergency Department. Both groups will be assessed by questionnaire. Patient over the age of 70 in the Emergency Department will be surveyed with a questionnaire regarding demographic information (including the elderly risk assessment), previous knowledge and ownership of an advanced care directive, comfort level discussing it and best person to have this discussion. Medical staff will also be surveyed with a questionnaire
Comparison between Emergency patients over 70 and medical doctors in the Emergency Department. Both groups will be assessed by questionnaire. Patient over the age of 70 in the Emergency Department will be surveyed with a questionnaire regarding demographic information (including the elderly risk assessment), previous knowledge and ownership of an advanced care directive, comfort level discussing it and best person to have this discussion. Medical staff will also be surveyed with a questionnaire detailing previous advanced acre planning discussions and their frequency, previous formal training, comfort level and any perceived barriers to its discussion. Survey for both groups will take approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Both groups will be assessed at a single time point only, there will be no follow up.
Sponsors
Northern Sydney Local Health District
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Patients – Inclusion - patients over age of 70 presenting to Emergency Department Doctors – Inclusion – Doctors working in Royal North Shore Emergency Department
Exclusion criteria
Patients - Exclusion – medically unstable (as deemed by treating physician), non-English speaking (unless translated by caregiver present), cognitive impairment (unless primary caregiver present and consents to participate in survey) Doctors - nil
Outcome results
None listed