Decision Aids for Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning (ACP) can be thought about as a way to inform care choices when the patient cannot express a preference, but it is also a planning tool. Seriously ill patients' preferences regarding life-sustaining interventions depend on their goals for care. Some patients prioritize living longer to achieve life goals, while others may not wish to be kept alive when meaningful recovery or a particular quality of life is no longer possible. Religious and spiritual values and beliefs may also affect goals of care. Advance planning for future care helps to honor patient preferences and goals should incapacitating illness or injury prevent adequate communication. This Technical Brief considers decision aids that support the ACP process of decisionmaking for future health care needs. ACP generally has three components: (1) learning about anticipated condition(s) and the options for care, (2) considering those options, and (3) communicating preferences for future care, either orally or in writing. Ideally ACP should be included in general care planning, especially for those with complex needs. ACP can be facilitated by a health care provider but may also rely on self-administered tools or attorney-client discussions.that focus on clarifying values and choosing a surrogate decisionmaker to serve when the person is incapacitated. Decision aids help patients consider options in health care.