Advance care decision making and planning

Abstract

Background Advance care planning (ACP) is an important component of quality care for patients with chronic and advanced diseases. General practititoners are ideally placed to initiate ACP because of their role in care coordination of chronic and advanced diseases, and the longstanding relationship they develop with patients. Objectives This paper outlines the key barriers to general practice involvement in ACP and describes useful strategies for incorporating ACP into patient care. Discussion Barriers to ACP are many and involve health professionals, patients and the healthcare system. To successfully incorporate ACP into patient care, there should be: (i) a commitment from the whole practic..