Facilitated Advance Care Planning Interventions: A Narrative Review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Research
• Public Health
• Gerontology

Background:

• Advance Care Planning (ACP) is crucial for patient-centered care, yet gaps exist in its implementation.
• Facilitator-led interventions are increasingly designed to address these ACP deficits.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize evidence on facilitated Advance Care Planning (ACP) interventions.
• To identify common characteristics, target populations, and outcome measures of these interventions.

Main Methods:

• A narrative review using a scoping review framework.
• Searched PubMed for studies involving facilitators in any part of the ACP process.
• Synthesized themes on intervention design, facilitators, populations, methods, and outcomes.

Main Results:

• 28 studies met inclusion criteria, with nurses (42.9%) and lay navigators being common facilitators.
• Most interventions (89.2%) targeted patients with serious illness, chronic conditions, or end-of-life needs.
• Successful outcomes (82.1%) were reported, with varied measurement methods including EHR documentation and patient reports.

Conclusions:

• Facilitated ACP interventions demonstrate significant success in addressing current planning gaps.
• Key intervention characteristics can be modified to optimize ACP delivery for specific patient groups.