Grant: CIHR Café Scientifique Program

A recent survey of patients and family members from six centres across Canada suggests that improved psychological and spiritual support, better advance care planning and improved relationships with physicians, including better communication and decision making, would improve end of life care in Canada. And yet, most health care professionals, patients and their family members/caregivers have no idea how to start the conversation. Our Café Scientifique will present research results on patient and family/caregiver satisfaction with care, introduce online patient tools developed to identify areas for improvement and discuss ways to translate research and tools into improved quality of care. After a brief presentation highlighting current research and new decision aids, attendees will participate in a discussion based on the following questions: •What are the barriers to conversation between patients, families and health care providers? •What health care resources (tools and professionals) are available to patients and their families to help them communicate their wishes for care? •How can health care professionals identify opportunities for improvement and respond to patient and family wishes? •Can advance care plans help improve end of life care and the quality of communication between patients, families and health care providers?