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. 2016 Feb;19(2):134-42.
doi: 10.1089/jpm.2015.0232.

Racial Differences in Outcomes of an Advance Care Planning Intervention for Dialysis Patients and Their Surrogates

Mi-Kyung Song  1 , Sandra E Ward  2 , Feng-Chang Lin  3 , Jill B Hamilton  4 , Laura C Hanson  5 , Gerald A Hladik  6 , Jason P Fine  3
Affiliations

Racial Differences in Outcomes of an Advance Care Planning Intervention for Dialysis Patients and Their Surrogates

Mi-Kyung Song et al. J Palliat Med. 2016 Feb.

Abstract

Background: African Americans' beliefs about end-of-life care may differ from those of whites, but racial differences in advance care planning (ACP) outcomes are unknown.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of an ACP intervention on preparation for end-of-life decision making and post-bereavement outcomes for African Americans and whites on dialysis.

Method: A secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial comparing an ACP intervention (Sharing Patient's Illness Representations to Increase Trust [SPIRIT]) with usual care was conducted. There were 420 participants, 210 patient-surrogate dyads (67.4% African Americans), recruited from 20 dialysis centers in North Carolina. The outcomes of preparation for end-of-life decision making included dyad congruence on goals of care, surrogate decision-making confidence, a composite of the two, and patient decisional conflict assessed at 2, 6, and 12 months post-intervention. Surrogate bereavement outcomes included anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic distress symptoms assessed at 2 weeks, and at 3 and 6 months after the patient's death.

Results: SPIRIT was superior to usual care in improving dyad congruence (odds ration [OR] = 2.31, p = 0.018), surrogate decision-making confidence (β = 0.18, p = 0.021), and the composite (OR = 2.19, p = 0.028) 2 months post-intervention, but only for African Americans. SPIRIT reduced patient decisional conflict at 6 months for whites and at 12 months for African Americans. Finally, SPIRIT was superior to usual care in reducing surrogates' bereavement depressive symptoms for African Americans but not for whites (β = -3.49, p = 0.003).

Conclusion: SPIRIT was effective in improving preparation for end-of-life decision-making and post-bereavement outcomes in African Americans.

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Figures

<b>FIG. 1.</b>
FIG. 1.
Intervention effects on bereavement outcomes by race. Each p value is based on a generalized estimating equation (GEE) model adjusted for time and the baseline for each outcome. PTSS, Post-Traumatic Symptoms Scale.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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