Advance Care Planning During COVID-19: A Study of Patient Records
Author Information
Author(s): McFarlane Philippa G, Bunce Catey, Sleeman Katherine E, Orlovic Martina, Koffman Jonathan, Rosling John, Bearne Alastair, Powell Margaret, Riley Julia, Droney Joanne
Primary Institution: The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Hypothesis
How did the use of advance care planning change before and during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Conclusion
The study found that advance care planning activity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in primary care for younger patients.
Supporting Evidence
- 73,675 records were analyzed, showing a significant increase in advance care planning during the pandemic.
- Average weekly records created increased by 296.9% during the first wave of the pandemic.
- Patients with records created during the pandemic were generally younger than those created pre-pandemic.
Takeaway
This study shows that more people started planning their future medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially younger individuals.
Methodology
The study analyzed electronic records of patients aged 18 and older, comparing data from before and during the pandemic using descriptive and comparative statistics.
Potential Biases
Potential biases include the inability to generalize findings beyond London and the lack of qualitative insights into patient experiences.
Limitations
The study could not determine the reasons for increased ACP activity and had significant missing data on key factors like ethnicity.
Participant Demographics
Participants were primarily adults aged 18 and older, with a notable increase in younger patients engaging in ACP during the pandemic.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.005
Statistical Significance
p<0.005
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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