Social workers' perspectives about advance directives: A qualitative study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Social Work
• Bioethics
• Patient Advocacy

Background:

• Advance Directives (ADs) are legal documents outlining patient preferences for end-of-life care.
• Effective Advance Care Planning (ACP) requires clear communication and patient engagement.
• The role of medical social workers in facilitating AD completion and ACP is increasingly recognized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore medical social workers' perceptions of the importance and purpose of documenting Advance Directives (ADs).
• To understand social workers' views on the benefits of engaging patients and families in dialogue about ADs and ACP.
• To identify the unique contributions of social workers in the process of Advance Directive completion.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative study was conducted using free-text survey responses from 142 medical social workers in the United States.
• Participants were asked about the purpose, importance, and benefits of AD documentation and patient education.
• Thematic analysis was employed to identify key themes related to ADs and Advance Care Planning (ACP).

Main Results:

• Four primary themes emerged: the purpose of AD documentation, facilitating communication, relationship building in care planning, and reducing suffering and uncertainty through ADs.
• Social workers highlighted their expertise in relationship building as essential for partnering with patients and families.
• The study identified social workers' role in providing ACP education and fostering interprofessional collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Medical social workers play a vital role in supporting patients and families through the Advance Directive completion process.
• Their skills in communication and relationship building enhance patient engagement in Advance Care Planning.
• Social workers add significant value to healthcare by improving communication and facilitating AD completion.