Provider Tools for Advance Care Planning and Goals of Care Discussions: A Systematic Review:

Background:Advance care planning and goals of care discussions involve the exploration of what is most important to a person, including their values and beliefs in preparation for health-care decision-making. Advance care planning conversations focus on planning for future health care, ensuring that an incapable person’s wishes are known and can guide the person’s substitute decision maker for future decision-making. Goals of care discussions focus on preparing for current decision-making by ensuring the person’s goals guide this process.Aim:To provide evidence regarding tools and/or practices available for use by health-care providers to effectively facilitate advance care planning conversations and/or goals of care discussions.Data sources:A systematic review was conducted focusing on guidelines, randomized trials, comparative studies, and noncomparative studies. Databases searched included MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the proceedings of the International Advance Care Planning Conference and the American Societ...