Advance Care Planning Needs in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Qualitative Study

Advance care planning is recommended in chronic respiratory diseases, including Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. In practice, uptake remains low due to patient, physician and system-related factors, including lack of time, training and guidance on timing, components and content of conversations. Our aim was to explore perspectives, experiences and needs to inform a framework.

We conducted a qualitative study in western Canada, using semi-structured interviews and inductive analysis. Patient, caregiver and health care professional participants described advance care planning experiences with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Twenty participants were interviewed individually: 5 patients, 5 caregivers, 5 home care and 5 acute care health care professionals. Two categories, perceptions and recommendations, were identified with themes and subthemes. Participant perceptions were insufficient information and conversations occur late. Recommendations were: have earlier conversations; have open conversations; provide detailed information; and plan for end-of-life. Patients and caregivers wanted honesty, openness and clarity. Professionals related delayed timing to poor end-of-life care and distressing deaths. Home care professionals described comfort with and an engaged approach to advance care planning. Acute care professionals perceived lack of clarity of roles and described personal, patient and caregiver distress.

Analysis of diverse experiences provided further understanding of advance care planning in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Advance care planning is desired by patients and caregivers early in their illness experience. Health care professionals described a need to clarify role, scope and responsibility. Practical guidance and training must be available to care providers to improve competency and confidence in these conversations.