engaging in advance care planning talks group visit intervention for cognitive impairment

Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment

Summary: the advance care planning group visit intervention is a new intervention that uses the strengths of group visits to promote advance care planning conversations and documentation. however, the advance care planning group visit intervention was initially designed for individuals without cognitive impairment. this study will specifically investigate ways to adapt the advance care planning group visit intervention for individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and their family care partners.

advance care planning is a process that supports adults at any age or stage of health in understanding and sharing their personal values, life goals, and preferences regarding future medical care. the goal of advance care planning is to help ensure that people receive medical care that is consistent with their values, goals and preferences during serious and chronic illness. the advance care planning group visit intervention is a new intervention that uses the strengths of group visits to promote advance care planning conversations and documentation. however, the advance care planning group visit intervention was initially designed for individuals without cognitive impairment. this study will specifically investigate ways to adapt the advance care planning group visit intervention for individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. this is a pilot test of the advance care planning group visit intervention adaptations, called engaging in advance care planning talks group visit intervention (enact memory group visits), to see if it is feasible, acceptable and improves the number of people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment who complete an advance directive (a legal form that describes someone's wishes for future medical care if they are unable to make their own decisions). it will also see how ready individuals are to participate in advance care planning. the overall goal is to improve opportunities for older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment to receive medical care that is consistent with their values, goals, and preferences. this aim will use rapid-cycle prototyping (n-of-1 interventions) to conduct the engaging in advance care planning talks (enact) memory group visits, adapting them for individuals with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. each n-of-1 prototype will include up to 10 patient-study partner dyads meeting in up to two 2-hour group medical visit sessions, one month apart. four cohorts will be conducted so that approximately 40 participants are involved in the n-of-1 prototypes of the enact memory group visit intervention. the intervention will be conducted based on an intervention manual that will be refined and adapted with input from patients, study partners, and the research team of multidisciplinary clinicians. participants will receive the colorado medical durable power of attorney form and other appropriate advance care planning resources for individuals with amci.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * diagnosis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment * ability to provide consent * have a study partner who has regular interaction with the patient exclusion criteria: * known prior diagnosis of deafness/hearing loss that would limit group discussion participation * inability to travel to study location * not having access to a phone for follow up * not having an individual who is able to serve as a study partner to the patient * normal cognitive screen based on spmsq

Keywords: advance care planning