Enrica Fung1, Nate Slesnick2, Manjula Kurella Tamura3, Brigitte Schiller4. 1. Division of Nephrology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA efung@stanford.edu. 2. Satellite Healthcare, San Jose, CA, USA. 3. Division of Nephrology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA VA Palo Alto Geriatric Research and Education Clinical Center, Palo Alto, CA, USA. 4. Division of Nephrology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA Satellite Healthcare, San Jose, CA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage renal disease report infrequent end-of-life discussions, and nephrology trainees report feeling unprepared for end-of-life decision making, but the views of dialysis medical directors have not been studied. AIM: Our objective is to understand dialysis medical directors' views and practice patterns on end-of-life decision making for patients with ESRD. DESIGN: We administered questionnaires to dialysis medical directors during medical director meetings of three different dialysis organizations in 2013. Survey questions corresponded to recommendations from the Renal Physicians Association clinical practice guidelines on initiation and withdrawal of dialysis. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: There were 121 medical director respondents from 28 states. RESULTS: The majority of respondents felt "very prepared" (66%) or "somewhat prepared" (29%) to participate in end-of-life decisions and most (80%) endorsed a model of shared decision making. If asked to do so, 70% of the respondents provided prognostic information "often" or "nearly always." For patients with a poor prognosis, 36% of respondents would offer a time-limited trial of dialysis "often" or "nearly always", while 56% of respondents would suggest withdrawal from dialysis "often" or "nearly always" for those with a poor prognosis currently receiving dialysis therapy. Patient resistance and fear of taking away hope were the most commonly cited barriers to end-of-life discussions. CONCLUSION: Views and reported practice patterns of medical directors are consistent with clinical practice guidelines for end-of-life decision making for patients with end-stage renal disease but inconsistent with patient perceptions.
BACKGROUND:Patients with end-stage renal disease report infrequent end-of-life discussions, and nephrology trainees report feeling unprepared for end-of-life decision making, but the views of dialysis medical directors have not been studied. AIM: Our objective is to understand dialysis medical directors' views and practice patterns on end-of-life decision making for patients with ESRD. DESIGN: We administered questionnaires to dialysis medical directors during medical director meetings of three different dialysis organizations in 2013. Survey questions corresponded to recommendations from the Renal Physicians Association clinical practice guidelines on initiation and withdrawal of dialysis. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: There were 121 medical director respondents from 28 states. RESULTS: The majority of respondents felt "very prepared" (66%) or "somewhat prepared" (29%) to participate in end-of-life decisions and most (80%) endorsed a model of shared decision making. If asked to do so, 70% of the respondents provided prognostic information "often" or "nearly always." For patients with a poor prognosis, 36% of respondents would offer a time-limited trial of dialysis "often" or "nearly always", while 56% of respondents would suggest withdrawal from dialysis "often" or "nearly always" for those with a poor prognosis currently receiving dialysis therapy. Patient resistance and fear of taking away hope were the most commonly cited barriers to end-of-life discussions. CONCLUSION: Views and reported practice patterns of medical directors are consistent with clinical practice guidelines for end-of-life decision making for patients with end-stage renal disease but inconsistent with patient perceptions.
Authors: Anne M Murray; Cheryl Arko; Shu-Cheng Chen; David T Gilbertson; Alvin H Moss Journal: Clin J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2006-09-06 Impact factor: 8.237
Authors: Maria E Montez-Rath; Yuanchao Zheng; Manjula Kurella Tamura; Vanessa Grubbs; Wolfgang C Winkelmayer; Tara I Chang Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2017-08-14 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Manjula Kurella Tamura; Ann M O'Hare; Eugene Lin; Laura M Holdsworth; Elizabeth Malcolm; Alvin H Moss Journal: Am J Kidney Dis Date: 2018-03-03 Impact factor: 8.860
Authors: Manjula Kurella Tamura; Maria E Montez-Rath; Yoshio N Hall; Ronit Katz; Ann M O'Hare Journal: Clin J Am Soc Nephrol Date: 2017-01-05 Impact factor: 8.237
Authors: Sarbjit V Jassal; Maria Larkina; Kitty J Jager; Fliss E M Murtagh; Ann M O'Hare; Norio Hanafusa; Hal Morgenstern; Friedrich K Port; Keith McCullough; Ronald Pisoni; Francesca Tentori; Rachel Perlman; Richard D Swartz Journal: CMAJ Date: 2020-08-31 Impact factor: 8.262