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. 2022 Mar 31;19(7):4162.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph19074162.

Patient Identification for Serious Illness Conversations: A Scoping Review

Rebecca Baxter  1 , Erik K Fromme  2   3 , Anna Sandgren  1
Affiliations

Patient Identification for Serious Illness Conversations: A Scoping Review

Rebecca Baxter et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

Serious illness conversations aim to align medical care and treatment with patients' values, goals, priorities, and preferences. Timely and accurate identification of patients for serious illness conversations is essential; however, existent methods for patient identification in different settings and population groups have not been compared and contrasted. This study aimed to examine the current literature regarding patient identification for serious illness conversations within the context of the Serious Illness Care Program and/or the Serious Illness Conversation Guide. A scoping review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. A comprehensive search was undertaken in four databases for literature published between January 2014 and September 2021. In total, 39 articles met the criteria for inclusion. This review found that patients were primarily identified for serious illness conversations using clinical/diagnostic triggers, the 'surprise question', or a combination of methods. A diverse assortment of clinicians and non-clinical resources were described in the identification process, including physicians, nurses, allied health staff, administrative staff, and automated algorithms. Facilitators and barriers to patient identification are elucidated. Future research should test the efficacy of adapted identification methods and explore how clinicians inform judgements surrounding patient identification.

Keywords: advance care planning; end of life; palliative care; patient identification systems; review; scoping review; serious illness care program; serious illness communication; serious illness conversations.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Summary of study selection process—PRISMA-ScR.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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