effectiveness of engaging in advance care planning talks (enact) group visits in primary care for older adults with and without alzheimer's disease

Conditions: Advance Care Planning; Primary Health Care

Summary: the main goal of the enact (engaging in advance care planning talks) group visit intervention is to integrate a patient-centered advance care planning process into primary care, ultimately helping patients to receive medical care that is aligned with their values. the enact group visit intervention involves two group discussions about advance care planning with 8-10 patients who meet for 2-hour sessions, one month apart, facilitated by a geriatrician and a social worker. this study will compare the enact group visit intervention to mailed advance care planning materials.

this pilot feasibility randomized controlled study will determine the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary efficacy of the enact group visit intervention compared to a comparison arm. the enact group visit intervention aims to engage patients in an interactive discussion of key acp concepts and support patient-initiated acp actions (i.e. choosing decision-maker(s), deciding on preferences during serious illness, discussing preferences with decision-makers and healthcare providers, and documenting advance directives). the group visits involve two 2-hour sessions, one month apart, facilitated by a geriatrician and a social worker. the enact group visit is based on an intervention manual that guides the structure, facilitator considerations, session format, and documentation and billing details. the discussions include sharing experiences related to acp, considering values related to serious illness, choosing a surrogate decision-maker(s), flexibility in decision making, and having conversations with decision-makers and healthcare providers. the facilitators support an interactive discussion that promotes opportunities for patients to learn from others' experiences.

Eligibility criteria:
patient participants: inclusion criteria: * 70 or older * at least one clinic visit in past year * no advanced care planning (acp) document in electronic health record based on a clinic-level, population-based report * preferred language english for uchealth clinics or preferred language english or spanish for denver health clinic exclusion criteria: * inability to demonstrate informed consent * does not have ready access to a telephone * inability to travel to clinic * moving out of area in 6 months * inability to participate in group visits due to hearing impairment as determined by clinic and/or study staff * a household member (same address) is already enrolled caregivers inclusion criteria: * age 18 and older * preferred language english for uchealth clinics or preferred language english or spanish for denver health clinic * patient with potential cognitive impairment consented to participate in study exclusion criteria: * does not have ready access to a telephone * inability to travel to clinic * moving out of area in 6 months * inability to participate in group visits due to hearing impairment as determined by clinic and/or study staff clinic stakeholders inclusion criteria: * work as a multidisciplinary team member at a participating primary care clinic in the study * english speaking as a preferred language * invited to participate in interviews or focus groups after the enact group visits intervention exclusion criteria: - inability to provide informed consent

Keywords: advance care planning group medial visit shared medical appointment