EP01.012 What conversation content do physicians document after implementation of serious illness conversations and what do they find useful?

Abstract

Background Advance care planning (ACP) is an increasing priority for people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to investigate characteristics of homedwelling persons with dementia and families that are related to ACP implementation. Methods An internet-based questionnaire survey was conducted with Japanese family caregivers of home-dwelling persons with dementia in June 2021. Registered members of a Japan-based survey company were recruited; inclusion criteria were being aged 40 years or older and having been a primary, non-professional caregiver of a family member with dementia. Respondents rated their level of agreement with six statements regarding advance-care-planning-related concerns. Respondents also evaluated the level of depressive symptoms in persons with dementia using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Results A total of 379 family caregivers participated in the survey. A total of 155 persons with dementia (40.9%) had initiated ACP, of which 88 (56.8%) had care professionals involved in ACP conversation. Persons with professional involvement showed significantly more severe depressive symptoms and lower family-caregiver concern compared to those who did not initiate ACP. Conclusion Presence of psychological distress such as depressive symptoms may have been a trigger to initiate ACP among people with dementia. Optimal and proactive ACP approaches need to be developed to address family concern regarding conducting ACP.