Grant: Planning Grants

There is a real problem with modern healthcare at the end of life. Most elderly patients with advanced, life-limiting illnesses prefer to receive treatments aimed at improving quality of life and symptoms in their final days. Yet, the use of invasive and expensive technologies at the end of life continues to increase. Mounting evidence suggests that the unwanted use of technology at the end of life has negative effects, including poorer quality of life for patients in those last days and high levels of anxiety and depression amongst bereaved family members. Moreover, as the use of life sustaining technologies increases, the cost of care at the end of life increases dramatically placing enormous strain on finite health care resources. Our prior research has identified that improving communication and decision-making at the end of life is a high priority for these patients and their families. The objective of our next study, the DECIDE II Study (Improving DECIsion-making about goals of care for hospitalized elDerly patiEnts), is to evaluate the effect of an innovative decision support intervention on outcomes that are meaningful and relevant to seriously ill, elderly, hospitalized patients, their family members, and the health system. We need to hold a face-to-face meeting of the research team, with healthcare decision-makers, patient and family representatives, and other stakeholders to receive their input into the development of the study intervention, methods, and outcomes so that we maximize the potential for our study to address concerns that are of greatest importance to these stakeholders. Thus, the purpose of this proposal is to seek funding to support this protocol development and stakeholder engagement meeting. By improving communication and decision-making at the end of life, we have the opportunity to dramatically improve patients and families experiences as they journey through their final days and prevent unwanted aggressive medical care at the EOL.