The Value of Advance Care Planning for Spokespersons of Patients With Advanced Illness.

Context: Advance Care Planning (ACP) has fallen under scrutiny primarily because research has not consistently demonstrated patient-focused benefits.

Objectives: To better understand how spokespersons regard, engage with, and find value in ACP during decision-making for their loved ones.

Methods: This qualitative analysis was part of a randomized controlled trial involving spokespersons of patients with advanced illness who had completed ACP.

Does Caregiver Participation in Advance Care Planning Using a Decision Support Tool Together With Patients Reduce Caregiver Strain, Burden and Anxiety Over Time? A Post-Hoc Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Context: Surrogate decision makers experience significant amounts of anxiety, burden, and strain in their role as caregivers and decision makers for loved ones.

Objectives: To investigate longitudinally whether surrogate decision makers engaging in ACP together with their loved one reduces perceived anxiety, burden, and strain felt by surrogate decision makers.

Methods: Post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial evaluating caregivers' perceived self-efficacy to serve as surrogate decision makers.