Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • LATEST ARTICLES
  • ALL ISSUES
  • AUTHORS & REVIEWERS
  • RESOURCES
    • About BJGP Open
    • BJGP Open Accessibility Statement
    • Editorial Board
    • Editorial Fellowships
    • Audio Abstracts
    • eLetters
    • Alerts
    • Outreach
    • BJGP Life
    • Research into Publication Science
    • Advertising
    • Contact
    • Top 10 Research Articles of the Year
  • SPECIAL ISSUES
    • Special issue: Telehealth
    • Special issue: Race and Racism in Primary Care
    • Special issue: COVID-19 and Primary Care
    • Past research calls
  • CONFERENCE
  • RCGP
    • British Journal of General Practice
    • BJGP for RCGP members
    • RCGP eLearning
    • InnovAIT Journal
    • Jobs and careers

User menu

  • Alerts

Search

  • Advanced search
Intended for Healthcare Professionals
BJGP Open
  • RCGP
    • British Journal of General Practice
    • BJGP for RCGP members
    • RCGP eLearning
    • InnovAIT Journal
    • Jobs and careers
  • Subscriptions
  • Alerts
  • Log in
  • Follow bjgp on Twitter
  • Visit bjgp on Facebook
  • Blog
BJGP Open
Intended for Healthcare Professionals

Advanced Search

  • HOME
  • LATEST ARTICLES
  • ALL ISSUES
  • AUTHORS & REVIEWERS
  • RESOURCES
    • About BJGP Open
    • BJGP Open Accessibility Statement
    • Editorial Board
    • Editorial Fellowships
    • Audio Abstracts
    • eLetters
    • Alerts
    • Outreach
    • BJGP Life
    • Research into Publication Science
    • Advertising
    • Contact
    • Top 10 Research Articles of the Year
  • SPECIAL ISSUES
    • Special issue: Telehealth
    • Special issue: Race and Racism in Primary Care
    • Special issue: COVID-19 and Primary Care
    • Past research calls
  • CONFERENCE
Research

Physicians’ perspectives on estimating and communicating prognosis in palliative care: a cross-sectional survey

Marijanne Engel, Andrée van der Ark, Lia van Zuylen and Agnes van der Heide
BJGP Open 2020; 4 (4): bjgpopen20X101078. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgpopen20X101078
Marijanne Engel
1 Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • ORCID record for Marijanne Engel
  • For correspondence: m.engel@erasmusmc.nl
Andrée van der Ark
1 Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Lia van Zuylen
2 Department of Medical Oncology, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Agnes van der Heide
1 Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Info
  • eLetters
  • PDF
Loading

Abstract

Background Advance care planning (ACP) can help to enhance the care of patients with limited life expectancy. Despite physicians’ key role in ACP, the ways in which physicians estimate and communicate prognosis can be improved.

Aim To determine how physicians in different care settings self-assess their performance in estimating and communicating prognosis to patients in palliative care, and how they perceive their communication with other physicians about patients’ poor prognosis.

Design & setting A survey study was performed among a random sample of GPs, hospital physicians (HPs), and nursing home physicians (NHPs) in the southwest of the Netherlands (n = 2212).

Method A questionnaire was developed that had three versions for GPs, HPs, and NHPs. Each specialism filled in an appropriate version.

Results A total of 547 physicians participated: 259 GPs, 205 HPs, and 83 NHPs. In the study, 61.1% of physicians indicated being able to adequately estimate whether a patient will die within 1 year, which was associated with use of the Surprise Question (odds ratio [OR] = 1.65, P = 0.042). In the case of a prognosis of <1 year, 75.0% of physicians indicated that they communicate with patients about preferences regarding treatment and care, which was associated with physicians being trained in palliative care (OR = 2.02, P=0.007). In cases where patients with poor prognosis are discharged after hospital admission, 83.4% of HPs indicated that they inform GPs about these patients’ preferences compared with 29.0% of GPs, and 21.7% of NHPs, who indicated that they are usually adequately informed about the preferences.

Conclusion The majority of physicians indicated that they believe they can adequately estimate patients’ limited life expectancy and that they discuss patients’ preferences for care. However, more physicians should be trained in communicating about patients’ poor prognosis and care preferences.

  • communication
  • palliative care
  • prognosis
  • general practice
  • physicians

How this fits in

In palliative care, ACP has been shown to improve concordance between patients’ own preferences and actual care, and to increase patient satisfaction with care. Timely ACP requires some estimate of patients’ life expectancy, but estimating and communicating patients’ poor prognosis can be complex. In this study, the majority of physicians indicated that they believe they can adequately estimate a patient’s limited life expectancy, but it was also found that communication about patients’ poor prognosis and related preferences can be improved, both with patients and with attending physicians in other care settings. More attention should be paid to training physicians in prognostic communication skills and coordination of roles and responsibilities related to ACP.

Introduction

To improve the care of patients with a life-limiting disease, it is essential to identify their preferences with regard to medical treatment and care. This process of identifying goals and preferences is thought to prevent overtreatment as well as undertreatment, and is referred to as ACP.1–3 ACP has been shown to improve concordance between patients’ own preferences and actual care, and to increase patient satisfaction with care.4,5 A key element of ACP involves physicians estimating prognosis — especially in the case of poor prognosis — and communicating this to the patient, provided the patient is thought to be able to cope with such information.3 Indeed, research has shown that, to some degree, all patients with a life-limiting illness want to know about the course of their illness and their likely prognosis. Such information helps them indicate their preferences with regard to treatment and care.2,4–7

In daily practice, ACP is complex. Patients usually receive care from multiple healthcare professionals from different care settings8. Especially in the final months of their life, the majority of patients are transferred at least once between different care settings, which often involves an unplanned hospital admission.9 While estimating prognosis and discussing it with the patient are important at all stages of the illness trajectory of patients with a limited life expectancy,10 both HPs and non-HPs are engaged in this part of clinical practice.10,11 In the Netherlands, HPs, GPs, and NHPs have an important role in initiating or continuing palliative care.11–13 To ensure that patients’ needs are met and their preferences are honoured, physicians should also adequately communicate prognosis and related preferences to physicians from other care settings.

In palliative care, patients’ desire for information has been shown to contrast with a failure by physicians to predict prognosis.12,14,15 Studies have also shown that even if they are able to predict poor prognosis, GPs and HPs are reluctant to discuss poor prognosis and preferences regarding related treatment and care with patients and their relatives.16–21 Other studies have identified deficits in information exchange and communication between physicians, including those working in different care settings.22–26 Information exchange and communication are aspects of inter-organisational collaboration, which has been defined as ' a cooperative, inter-organisational relationship that is negotiated in an ongoing communicative process, and which relies on neither market nor hierarchical mechanisms of control '.27

How physicians in different care settings self-assess their performance in estimating a poor prognosis and discussing it with patients has been poorly studied. Further, little attention has been paid to the experiences of physicians communicating about these issues with physicians in other care settings who are involved in the patient’s care. Therefore, the following research questions were studied:

  1. How do physicians in different care settings self-assess their performance in estimating a poor prognosis and discussing it with patients in palliative care?

  2. How do physicians in different care settings perceive their communication about patients’ poor prognosis and preferences regarding treatment and care with attending physicians working in other care settings?

  3. In case of a poor prognosis, how do physicians assess the quality of collaboration with physicians working in other care settings?

Method

Study design

This cross-sectional survey study was part of a larger study on continuity in palliative care in the southwest region of the Netherlands. The study was performed among physicians working in primary care, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Study population

The study population consisted of a random sample of physicians (n = 2212) from a full professional registry (IQVIA database OneKey), working in different care settings in the research region. GPs, HPs, and NHPs were included. Exclusion criteria were: junior doctors, and specialties that have relatively little to do with palliative care, such as ophthalmologists. A random stratified sample was taken; that is, 50% (n = 716) of all registered GPs, 50% (n = 1271) of all registered HPs from most specialties, and all (n = 225) registered NHPs. In July 2017, physicians were invited to fill in either a paper copy of the questionnaire or a digital version. Additionally, physicians were invited to participate in the study via institutes for training physicians in palliative care, and via professional newsletters.

Questionnaire

A questionnaire was developed for this study with three versions (for GPs, HPs, and NHPs) to enable adequate formulation of the same questions and statements for each specialism. Questions were formulated based on earlier research about estimating prognosis28,29 and collaboration among HPs and GPs.22 Further, previously developed questionnaires were used.30–32

The general part of the questionnaire included questions on the responder's work setting, sex, age, practice experience (number of deceased patients in their practice per year), training in palliative care, self-reported use of the Surprise Question ('Would you be surprised if this patient would die in the next year?'),14 and degree of urbanisation of their work setting.

The questionnaire further focused on: 1) physicians' self-assessment of their performance in estimating prognosis (1 year, 3 months, 1 week) and communicating poor prognosis to patients; 2) communicating prognosis and related wishes for treatment and care with physicians from other care settings (HPs were asked for their communication with GPs, and GPs and NHPs were asked for their communication with HPs); and 3) perceived collaboration with physicians working in other care settings for patients with a poor prognosis in the past year (HPs were asked for their collaboration with GPs, and GPs and NHPs were asked for their collaboration with HPs). The questionnaire also contained open questions about experienced bottlenecks in collaboration with care providers from other organisations. Ten physicians tested a full draft of the questionnaire to assess the applicability (comprehension, formulation, and length of time). Their comments were incorporated in the final version of the questionnaire.

Statistical analyses

The score on the numerical scale for quality of collaboration was categorised into 'inadequate' (scores ≤5) and 'adequate' (scores ≥6). In order to explore the potential association of responder characteristics with their self-reported performance in adequately estimating a prognosis of <1 year, a univariable regression analysis was performed. Those variables for which the association had a P<0.30 in the univariable analysis were entered in a multivariable analysis. Potential associations of responder characteristics with their self-reported performance in discussing wishes and expectations regarding treatment and care were explored similarly. Data were analysed using the statistical programme IBM SPSS Statistics (version 25). From the answers to open questions, after having coded them to themes, a few direct quotes were selected to illustrate the findings.

Results

Physician characteristics

The questionnaire was filled in by 547 physicians: 259 GPs (36.2% of GPs in sample), 205 HPs (16.1%), and 83 NHPs (36.9%). Of all responders, 51.7% indicated that they had ≥10 patients in their practice die per year. On the issue of training, 36.4% indicated that they had received extra training in the field of palliative care, ranging from any basic training after degree to specialist palliative care training. Of all responders, 19.7% reported use of the Surprise Question. Forty-seven per cent worked in a strongly urbanised area, 22.3% in a moderately urbanised area, and 24.9% in a rural area (Table 1).

View this table:
  • View inline
  • View popup
Table 1. Characteristics of physicians

Estimating and communicating prognosis with patient

Of all physicians, 61.1% stated that they can ‘always’ or ‘often’ adequately estimate if a patient will die within 1 year. When a patient is estimated to have a prognosis of <1 year, the majority of all physicians (75.0%) indicated that they ‘always’ or ‘often’ will discuss with the patient his or her wishes and expectations regarding treatment and care. On the issue of whether the physician would have a conversation with the patient about his or her worries, psychosocial aspects, and/or meaning of life questions, 43.4% of HPs answered either ‘always’ or ‘often’, compared with 73.0% of GPs and 71.1% of NHPs (Table 2). In univariable regression analysis, it was found that self-reported use of the Surprise Question had a statistically significant association with physicians’ self-reported performance in adequately estimating a prognosis of <1 year (P = 0.025). Based on P<0.30 in univariate analysis, age (P = 0.188), practice experience (P = 0.071), and self-reported use of the Surprise Question (P = 0.025) were included in the multivariable analysis. A statistically significant association was only found with use of the Surprise Question (OR = 1.65, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.018 to 2.688, P = 0.042). It was also found that both training in palliative care (P = 0.001) and self-reported use of the Surprise Question (P = 0.027) were statistically significantly associated with physicians’ self-reported performance in discussing wishes and expectations regarding treatment and care with the patient in the case that a patient had a prognosis of <1 year. In a multivariable analysis, a statistically significant association was only found with training in palliative care (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.210 to 3.384, P = 0.007).

View this table:
  • View inline
  • View popup
Table 2. Estimating and communicating prognosis with the patient

When a patient is estimated to have a prognosis of <3 months or <1 week, 66.7% and 76.1% of all physicians respectively stated that they can ‘always’ or ‘often’ adequately estimate this. More than nine in 10 physicians will then ‘always’ or ‘often’ discuss with the patient his or her wishes and expectations regarding treatment and care. (Table 2).

Communicating prognosis and collaboration with physicians working in other care settings

In cases where it is determined in the hospital that a patient has a serious incurable disease, 94.1% of the HPs indicated that they would ‘always’ or ‘often’ inform the GP. The study found 86.1% of GPs and 59.0% of NHPs indicated that they have ‘always’ or ‘often’ been adequately informed about this by HPs (Table 3).

View this table:
  • View inline
  • View popup
Table 3. Communicating prognosis with physicians working in other care settings, and perceived quality of collaboration

In cases where a patient with a limited life expectancy is discharged after an unplanned admission to the hospital, 77.1% of HPs indicated that they ‘always’ or ‘often’ inform the GP about the prognosis of the patient, compared with 43.6% of GPs and 28.9% of NHPs who indicated that they are ‘always’ or ‘often’ adequately informed about this. With regard to wishes and agreements of or with the patient about treatment and care, 83.4% of HPs indicated that they ‘always’ or ‘often’ adequately inform the GP about this, compared with 29.0% of GPs and 21.7% of NHPs who indicated that they are ‘always’ or ‘often’ adequately informed about this (Table 3).

Physicians’ mean score for quality of their collaboration with physicians from other care settings with regard to care for patients with a limited life expectancy was 7.2 (standard deviation [SD] 1.2). NHPs had the lowest mean score (6.2) and HPs the highest mean score (7.5). Of all physicians, 30.5% indicated that poor collaboration with physicians from other care settings ‘always’ or ‘often’ hinders them in providing adequate care to patients with a limited life expectancy (Table 3).

In answers to open questions, 421 of 547 responders reported ≥1 bottlenecks in their collaboration with care physicians from other care settings; 34 physicians mentioned that they experienced few or no bottlenecks. If physicians reported bottlenecks, the most mentioned themes were communication and exchange of information (Table 4).

View this table:
  • View inline
  • View popup
Table 4. Open answers: experienced bottlenecks in collaboration between GPs/NHPs (their perspectives) and HPs, and between HPs (their perspectives) and GPsa

Discussion

Summary

The results of this study suggest that the majority of physicians believe they can adequately estimate a patient’s limited life expectancy, and, in cases where prognosis is poor, discuss the patient's wishes with the patient. However, this study also suggests that information transfer and communication concerning patients’ wishes for treatment and care can be improved. Multivariable analysis showed a statistically significant association between use of the Surprise Question and physicians’ self-reported performance in adequately estimating a prognosis of <1 year, and between training in palliative care and self-reported performance in discussing preferences regarding treatment and care in case where a patient has a prognosis of <1 year.

Strengths and limitations

A strength of the study is that a random sample was surveyed from a professional registry of GPs, HPs, and NHPs in the research region. A limitation is that the questions about estimating and communicating prognosis were somewhat general, which may have resulted in the physicians’ responses representing their views on the subject rather than their actual behaviour. It is expected that the findings can be generalisable to other parts of the Netherlands and Europe, although caution is advised because of differences in healthcare systems and in the education of care providers. Finally, the cross-sectional nature of the study limits the possibility of making robust causal inferences.

Comparison with existing literature

A significant association was found between use of the Surprise Question and physicians’ self-reported performance in adequately estimating a prognosis of <1 year. In general, the process of estimating prognosis and communicating this to patients has been found to be complex. Studying nuances of this process appears to be difficult given the great diversity in patients and disorders, and in care settings.10,21 In a systematic review of predictions of survival in palliative care, White et al found no subgroup of physicians that consistently performed better in estimating prognosis.10 The finding that physicians using the Surprise Question reported better performance in adequately estimating a prognosis of <1 year, supports studies that mention the Surprise Question as a simple and feasible tool helping physicians to adequately identify patients with palliative care needs.14,15,33 Nevertheless, the Surprise Question has a rather low specificity and positive predictive value, which means that many patients unexpectedly live longer than 1 year.15,33 The main purpose of estimating patients’ prognosis is not necessarily to inform the patient about their estimated life expectancy in years, months, or weeks. Rather, the emphasis is on communicating with the patient about their deteriorating situation.3,14,34 Nevertheless, in cases where a physician expects a patient to die within a year, 21.4% of the physicians surveyed here indicated that they would not talk to the patient about their wishes and expectations. Possible explanations for this finding are that these physicians consider it the role of an attending physician working in another care setting,11 that physicians feel that the patient cannot cope with such information,19,20 or restraint on the part of physicians regarding the value of ACP.11,35 The finding could also be related to the healthcare reimbursement system in the Netherlands: only since 2018 can HPs request reimbursement for an ‘ e xtensive consultation for careful consideration of treatment options, together with the patient and/or his/her representative ’ (translated from Dutch).36

On the other hand, a significant association was found between being trained in palliative care and discussing preferences regarding treatment and care in the case that a patient has a prognosis of <1 year. This finding supports findings from other studies.13,21 Thoonsen et al found that 1 year after the start of a training programme on how to provide structured anticipatory palliative care, GPs performed significantly better in estimating a limited life expectancy and in providing multidimensional care.13 In a review and synthesis of best practices in communication about serious illness care goals, Bernacki et al found that training of HPs is one of the most promising interventions to promote conversations with patients about preferences regarding end-of-life care.21

In general, when physicians were asked about their collaborations with physicians from other care settings for patients with a limited life expectancy in the past year, they were moderately positive, with HPs giving the highest mean score for the quality of collaboration, and NHPs the lowest. Considerable differences were found in experiences between the hospital and non-hospital physicians: while HPs often stated that they adequately inform the GP about patients with a limited life expectancy, GPs and NHPs often indicated that they are not adequately informed. It was also found that, in the experience of GPs and NHPs, the handover from the HP often lacks information regarding prognosis and patients’ wishes for treatment and care. Other studies have also found such deficits.8,37–39 With regard to palliative care, den Herder-van der Eerden et al 8 and Seamark et al 39 concluded that the information exchange between healthcare providers from different care settings in palliative care is relatively poor.

There are a number of explanations for the differences that were found between physicians. First, HPs may overestimate the frequency and content of their own communication with patients. A second explanation could be that HPs do not document this information adequately. Other studies found that around 30% of treatment and care preferences — as expressed by the patient — were documented in the medical record.17,40 This indicates that the proportion of HPs in the study who communicate with patients about poor prognosis and related preferences is probably higher than the proportion who document this adequately in the medical record. This lack of documentation probably leads to inadequate information in the medical handover.

A third possible explanation is that it is unclear for the HP exactly when patients’ wishes and expectations should be communicated, and to what extent this is part of their role and responsibilities.11,17 This may have to do with differences in professionalisation regarding ACP. Professionalisation is described as a process that serves to secure and protect exclusive areas of knowledge, skills, and expertise of professionals in the healthcare system.41 This means that physicians in different care settings have different professional values and follow different procedures.27,41,42 Other studies have found differences in terminology and in attitudes towards palliative care and ACP between physicians working in different care settings.28,40,43

Implications for practice

In conclusion, the findings suggest that more shared professionalisation towards ACP and communicating prognosis in palliative care may facilitate collaborative partnership in ACP between physicians working in different care settings. To achieve this, first, professional physicians’ associations should, in mutual consultation, give direction to the coordination of roles and responsibilities related to ACP. Second, education and training in practice require more attention for communicating poor prognosis and related preferences with patients and with other physicians.

Notes

Funding

This study was funded by ZonMw, the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (grant reference number: 844001104). The study was conducted independently from the funders.

Ethical approval

Not applicable. Under Dutch law this study is exempt from approval by an ethics committee.

Provenance

Freely submited; externally peer reviewed.

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the physicians who gave feedback on drafts of the questionnaire, and who participated in the study. They also wish to extend their thanks to Sanne Tamerus MSc, research assistant, for her research support and for her work on the database, and to Sally Hill MSc, medical writer and language consultant, for editing parts of the manuscript.

Competing interests

The authors declare that no competing interests exist.

  • Received December 10, 2019.
  • Accepted January 27, 2020.
  • Copyright © 2020, The Authors

This article is Open Access: CC BY license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

References

  1. 1.↵
    1. Krones T,
    2. Budilivschi A,
    3. Karzig I,
    4. et al.
    (2019 Jan 21) Advance care planning for the severely ill in the hospital: a randomized trial. BMJ Support Palliat Care, bmjspcare-2017-001489, doi:10.1136/bmjspcare-2017-001489, pmid:30665882.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  2. 2.↵
    1. Overbeek A,
    2. Korfage IJ,
    3. Jabbarian LJ,
    4. et al.
    (2018) Advance care planning in frail older adults: a cluster randomized controlled trial. J Am Geriatr Soc 66(6):1089–1095, doi:10.1111/jgs.15333, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29608789.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  3. 3.↵
    1. Rietjens JAC,
    2. Sudore RL,
    3. Connolly M,
    4. et al.
    (2017) Definition and recommendations for advance care planning: an international consensus supported by the European Association for Palliative Care. Lancet Oncol 18(9):e543–e551, doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30582-X, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28884703.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  4. 4.↵
    1. Brinkman-Stoppelenburg A,
    2. Rietjens JAC,
    3. van der Heide A
    (2014) The effects of advance care planning on end-of-life care: a systematic review. Palliat Med 28(8):1000–1025, doi:10.1177/0269216314526272, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24651708.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  5. 5.↵
    1. Zwakman M,
    2. Jabbarian LJ,
    3. van Delden JJM,
    4. et al.
    (2018) Advance care planning: a systematic review about experiences of patients with a life-threatening or life-limiting illness. Palliat Med 32(8):1305–1321, doi:10.1177/0269216318784474, pmid:29956558.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  6. 6.
    1. Thomas JM,
    2. Cooney LM,
    3. Fried TR
    (2019) Prognosis reconsidered in light of ancient insights — from Hippocrates to modern medicine. JAMA Intern Med 179(6):820–823, doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2019.0302, pmid:30958502.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  7. 7.↵
    1. Murray SA,
    2. Kendall M,
    3. Mitchell G,
    4. et al.
    (2017) Palliative care from diagnosis to death. BMJ 356:j878, doi:10.1136/bmj.j878, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28242747.
    OpenUrlFREE Full Text
  8. 8.↵
    1. den Herder-van der Eerden M,
    2. Hasselaar J,
    3. Payne S,
    4. et al.
    (2017) How continuity of care is experienced within the context of integrated palliative care: a qualitative study with patients and family caregivers in five European countries. Palliat Med 31(10):946–955, doi:10.1177/0269216317697898, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28659022.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  9. 9.↵
    1. Van den Block L,
    2. Pivodic L,
    3. Pardon K,
    4. et al.
    (2015) Transitions between health care settings in the final three months of life in four EU countries. Eur J Public Health 25(4):569–575, doi:10.1093/eurpub/ckv039, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25829502.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  10. 10.↵
    1. White N,
    2. Reid F,
    3. Harris A,
    4. et al.
    (2016) A systematic review of predictions of survival in palliative care: how accurate are clinicians and who are the experts? PLoS One 11(8), doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0161407, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27560380. e0161407.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  11. 11.↵
    1. Gilissen J,
    2. Pivodic L,
    3. Smets T,
    4. et al.
    (2017) Preconditions for successful advance care planning in nursing homes: a systematic review. Int J Nurs Stud 66:47–59, doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.12.003, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27987411.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  12. 12.↵
    1. van der Plas AGM,
    2. Pasman HRW,
    3. Schweitzer B,
    4. Onwuteaka-Philipsen BD
    (2018) Improving palliative care provision in primary care: a pre- and post-survey evaluation among PATZ groups. Br J Gen Pract 68(670):e351–e359, doi:10.3399/bjgp18X695753, pmid:29581128.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  13. 13.↵
    1. Thoonsen B,
    2. Gerritzen SHM,
    3. Vissers KCP,
    4. et al.
    (2019) Training general practitioners contributes to the identification of palliative patients and to multidimensional care provision: secondary outcomes of an RCT. BMJ Support Palliat Care 9(1):e18, doi:10.1136/bmjspcare-2015-001031, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27091833.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  14. 14.↵
    1. Moss AH,
    2. Lunney JR,
    3. Culp S,
    4. et al.
    (2010) Prognostic significance of the "surprise" question in cancer patients. J Palliat Med 13(7):837–840, doi:10.1089/jpm.2010.0018, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20636154.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  15. 15.↵
    1. Weijers F,
    2. Veldhoven C,
    3. Verhagen C,
    4. et al.
    (2018) Adding a second surprise question triggers general practitioners to increase the thoroughness of palliative care planning: results of a pilot RCT with cage vignettes. BMC Palliat Care 17(1), doi:10.1186/s12904-018-0312-6, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29673361. 64.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  16. 16.↵
    1. Barclay S,
    2. Momen N,
    3. Case-Upton S,
    4. et al.
    (2011) End-of-life care conversations with heart failure patients: a systematic literature review and narrative synthesis. Br J Gen Pract 61(582):e49–e62, doi:10.3399/bjgp11X549018, pmid:21401993.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  17. 17.↵
    1. Heyland DK,
    2. Barwich D,
    3. Pichora D,
    4. et al.
    (2013) Failure to engage hospitalized elderly patients and their families in advance care planning. JAMA Intern Med 173(9):778–787, doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.180, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23545563.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  18. 18.
    1. Heyland DK,
    2. Heyland R,
    3. Dodek P,
    4. et al.
    (2017) Discordance between patients' stated values and treatment preferences for end-of-life care: results of a multicentre survey. BMJ Support Palliat Care 7(3):292–299, doi:10.1136/bmjspcare-2015-001056, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28827369.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  19. 19.↵
    1. Meeussen K,
    2. Van den Block L,
    3. Echteld M,
    4. et al.
    (2011) Advance care planning in Belgium and the Netherlands: a nationwide retrospective study via sentinel networks of general practitioners. J Pain Symptom Manage 42(4):565–577, doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2011.01.011, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21530152.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  20. 20.↵
    1. Simon J,
    2. Porterfield P,
    3. Bouchal SR,
    4. Heyland D
    (2015) 'Not yet' and 'just ask': barriers and facilitators to advance care planning — a qualitative descriptive study of the perspectives of seriously ill, older patients and their families. BMJ Support Palliat Care 5(1):54–62, doi:10.1136/bmjspcare-2013-000487, pmid:24644192.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  21. 21.↵
    1. Bernacki RE,
    2. Block SD,
    3. American College of Physicians High Value Care Task Force
    (2014) Communication about serious illness care goals: a review and synthesis of best practices. JAMA Intern Med 174(12), doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.5271, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25330167. 1994-2003.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  22. 22.↵
    1. Berendsen AJ,
    2. Kuiken A,
    3. Benneker WHGM,
    4. et al.
    (2009) How do general practitioners and specialists value their mutual communication? A survey. BMC Health Serv Res 9, doi:10.1186/1472-6963-9-143, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19664238. 143.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  23. 23.
    1. Hesselink G,
    2. Schoonhoven L,
    3. Barach P,
    4. et al.
    (2012) Improving patient handovers from hospital to primary care: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med 157(6):417–428, doi:10.7326/0003-4819-157-6-201209180-00006, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22986379.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  24. 24.
    1. Jones CD,
    2. Vu MB,
    3. O'Donnell CM,
    4. et al.
    (2015) A failure to communicate: a qualitative exploration of care coordination between hospitalists and primary care providers around patient hospitalizations. J Gen Intern Med 30(4):417–424, doi:10.1007/s11606-014-3056-x, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25316586.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  25. 25.
    1. Kripalani S,
    2. LeFevre F,
    3. Phillips CO,
    4. et al.
    (2007) Deficits in communication and information transfer between hospital-based and primary care physicians: implications for patient safety and continuity of care. JAMA 297(8):831–841, doi:10.1001/jama.297.8.831, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17327525.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  26. 26.↵
    1. Van Seben R,
    2. Geerlings SE,
    3. Maaskant JM,
    4. et al.
    (2019) Safe handovers for every patient: an interrupted time series analysis to test the effect of a structured discharge bundle in Dutch hospitals. BMJ Open 9(6), doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023446, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31167854. e023446.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  27. 27.↵
    1. Auschra C
    (2018) Barriers to the integration of care in inter-organisational settings: a literature review. Int J Integr Care 18(1), doi:10.5334/ijic.3068, pmid:29632455. 5.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  28. 28.↵
    1. Bakanic V,
    2. Singleton M,
    3. Dickinson GE
    (2016) Hospice attitudes of physicians and nurses: a pilot study. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 33(1):34–40, doi:10.1177/1049909114552124, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25253769.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  29. 29.↵
    1. Snyder S,
    2. Hazelett S,
    3. Allen K,
    4. Radwany S
    (2013) Physician knowledge, attitude, and experience with advance care planning, palliative care, and hospice: results of a primary care survey. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 30(5):419–424, doi:10.1177/1049909112452467, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22798634.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  30. 30.↵
    1. Claessen SJJ,
    2. Francke AL,
    3. Sixma HJ,
    4. et al.
    (2012) Measuring patients' experiences with palliative care: the consumer quality index palliative care. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2(4):367–372, doi:10.1136/bmjspcare-2011-000055, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24654223.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  31. 31.
    1. Oliver DP,
    2. Wittenberg-Lyles EM,
    3. Day M
    (2007) Measuring interdisciplinary perceptions of collaboration on hospice teams. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 24(1):49–53, doi:10.1177/1049909106295283, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17347505.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  32. 32.↵
    1. Collins ES,
    2. Witt J,
    3. Bausewein C,
    4. et al.
    (2015) A systematic review of the use of the palliative care outcome scale and the support team assessment schedule in palliative care. J Pain Symptom Manage 50(6):842–853, doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.07.015, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26335764.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  33. 33.↵
    1. Downar J,
    2. Goldman R,
    3. Pinto R,
    4. et al.
    (2017) The "surprise question" for predicting death in seriously ill patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. CMAJ 189(13):E484–E493, doi:10.1503/cmaj.160775, pmid:28385893.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  34. 34.↵
    1. Johnson M,
    2. Attree M,
    3. Jones I,
    4. et al.
    (2014) Diagnosis, prognosis and awareness of dying in nursing homes: towards the gold standard? Int J Older People Nurs 9(2):95–105, doi:10.1111/opn.12024, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23437805.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  35. 35.↵
    1. Robinson L,
    2. Dickinson C,
    3. Bamford C,
    4. et al.
    (2013) A qualitative study: professionals' experiences of advance care planning in dementia and palliative care, 'a good idea in theory but ...' Palliat Med 27(5):401–408, doi:10.1177/0269216312465651, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23175508.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  36. 36.↵
    1. Pereira C,
    2. van Aalst B,
    3. Douma J,
    4. Boddaert M
    (2017) [Guide for financing palliative care 2018] [Article in Dutch] (Palliactief, IKNL, Amsterdam).
  37. 37.↵
    1. Langelaan M,
    2. Baines RJ,
    3. de Bruijne MC,
    4. Wagner C
    (2017) Association of admission and patient characteristics with quality of discharge letters: posthoc analysis of a retrospective study. BMC Health Serv Res 17(1), doi:10.1186/s12913-017-2149-8, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28327139. 225.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  38. 38.
    1. Schwarz CM,
    2. Hoffmann M,
    3. Schwarz P,
    4. et al.
    (2019) A systematic literature review and narrative synthesis on the risks of medical discharge letters for patients' safety. BMC Health Serv Res 19(1), doi:10.1186/s12913-019-3989-1, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30866908. 158.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  39. 39.↵
    1. Seamark D,
    2. Blake S,
    3. Brearley SG,
    4. et al.
    (2014) Dying at home: a qualitative study of family carers' views of support provided by GPs community staff. Br J Gen Pract 64(629):e796–e803, doi:10.3399/bjgp14X682885, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25452545.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  40. 40.↵
    1. Detering KM,
    2. Buck K,
    3. Ruseckaite R,
    4. et al.
    (2019) Prevalence and correlates of advance care directives among older Australians accessing health and residential aged care services: multicentre audit study. BMJ Open 9(1), doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025255, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30647047. e025255.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
  41. 41.↵
    1. Khalili H,
    2. Hall J,
    3. DeLuca S
    (2014) Historical analysis of professionalism in Western societies: implications for interprofessional education and collaborative practice. J Interprof Care 28(2):92–97, doi:10.3109/13561820.2013.869197, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24383410.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  42. 42.↵
    1. Klarare A,
    2. Hagelin CL,
    3. Fürst CJ,
    4. Fossum B
    (2013) Team interactions in specialized palliative care teams: a qualitative study. J Palliat Med 16(9):1062–1069, doi:10.1089/jpm.2012.0622, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24041291.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  43. 43.↵
    1. Yapp KA
    (2012) Culture and end-of-life care: an epidemiological evaluation of physicians. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 29(2):106–111, doi:10.1177/1049909111410294, pmid:http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21613304.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  44. 44.
    1. van Campen C,
    2. Verbeek-Oudijk D
    (2017) [Happy in a nursing home? Perceived quality of life and care of older residents of nursing and care homes]. [Article in Dutch] (The Netherlands Institute for Social Research, The Hague).
  45. 45.
    1. CBS StatLine
    (2018) [Regional key figures for the Netherlands]. [Article in Dutch]. https://opendata.cbs.nl/statline/#/CBS/nl/dataset/70072ned/table?ts=1557230780716. 7 Aug 2020.
Back to top
Previous ArticleNext Article

In this issue

BJGP Open
Vol. 4, Issue 4
October 2020
  • Table of Contents
  • Index by author
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Or,
sign in or create an account with your email address
Email Article

Thank you for recommending BJGP Open.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person to whom you are recommending the page knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Physicians’ perspectives on estimating and communicating prognosis in palliative care: a cross-sectional survey
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from BJGP Open
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from BJGP Open.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Citation Tools
Physicians’ perspectives on estimating and communicating prognosis in palliative care: a cross-sectional survey
Marijanne Engel, Andrée van der Ark, Lia van Zuylen, Agnes van der Heide
BJGP Open 2020; 4 (4): bjgpopen20X101078. DOI: 10.3399/bjgpopen20X101078

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Physicians’ perspectives on estimating and communicating prognosis in palliative care: a cross-sectional survey
Marijanne Engel, Andrée van der Ark, Lia van Zuylen, Agnes van der Heide
BJGP Open 2020; 4 (4): bjgpopen20X101078. DOI: 10.3399/bjgpopen20X101078
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
  • Mendeley logo Mendeley

Jump to section

  • Top
  • Article
    • Abstract
    • How this fits in
    • Introduction
    • Method
    • Results
    • Discussion
    • Notes
    • References
  • Figures & Data
  • Info
  • eLetters
  • PDF

Keywords

  • communication
  • palliative care
  • prognosis
  • general practice
  • physicians

More in this TOC Section

  • Translating primary care to telehealth: analysis of in-person consultations on diabetes and cardiovascular disease
  • Primary care physicians’ perceptions of social determinants of health recommendations: a qualitative study
  • Variation in laboratory testing for patients with long-term conditions: a longitudinal cohort study in UK primary care
Show more Research

Related Articles

Cited By...

Intended for Healthcare Professionals

@BJGPOpen's Likes on Twitter

 
 

British Journal of General Practice

NAVIGATE

  • Home
  • Latest articles
  • Authors & reviewers
  • Accessibility statement

RCGP

  • British Journal of General Practice
  • BJGP for RCGP members
  • RCGP eLearning
  • InnovAiT Journal
  • Jobs and careers

MY ACCOUNT

  • RCGP members' login
  • Terms and conditions

NEWS AND UPDATES

  • About BJGP Open
  • Alerts
  • RSS feeds
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

AUTHORS & REVIEWERS

  • Submit an article
  • Writing for BJGP Open: research
  • Writing for BJGP Open: practice & policy
  • BJGP Open editorial process & policies
  • BJGP Open ethical guidelines
  • Peer review for BJGP Open

CUSTOMER SERVICES

  • Advertising
  • Open access licence

CONTRIBUTE

  • BJGP Life
  • eLetters
  • Feedback

CONTACT US

BJGP Open Journal Office
RCGP
30 Euston Square
London NW1 2FB
Tel: +44 (0)20 3188 7400
Email: bjgpopen@rcgp.org.uk

BJGP Open is an editorially-independent publication of the Royal College of General Practitioners

© 2023 BJGP Open

Online ISSN: 2398-3795