Advance care planning in COPD: care versus "code status"

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in advanced stages runs an unpredictable downward course with increasingly frequent, ultimately fatal exacerbations. Worldwide financial and human costs are huge. Responsibility for initiating advance care planning in COPD has usually fallen to the physicians. The tendency has been to avoid this aspect of care, which can result in inadequate, rushed, reactive, crisis decision-making in the form of a "code status" discussion. In this article, I review the relevant literature and report findings from a qualitative study designed within my doctoral program to explore the question, "What is required for meaningful and effective advance care planning in the context of advanced COPD?" I describe the "collaborative care" approach to advance care planning I used with eight patients and carers living with advanced COPD. Along with a skilled clinician facilitator, user-friendly education elements, and attention to readiness, unique aspects of the approach included a focus on caring, engaging hope, facilitator reflective praxis, and contextual sensitivity. This approach has significant potential for enhancing decision making and goal setting, efficiency of resource utilization, and satisfaction with outcomes. Done well, it may reclaim the care element in advance care planning as it addresses barriers cited by physicians and patients/families.