Healthcare Providers' Perceptions on the Timing of Initial Advance Care Planning Discussions in Japan: a Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: Most adult patients are willing to discuss advance care planning before the onset of any illness. There might be differences in preferences for timing when it comes to initiating advance care planning discussions by healthcare providers with patients.

Objective: To identify healthcare providers' willingness to initiate advance care planning discussions in Japan.

Patients' preferences and factors influencing initial advance care planning discussions' timing: A cross-cultural mixed-methods study.

Background: Although advance care planning discussions are increasingly accepted worldwide, their ideal timing is uncertain and cultural factors may pertain.

Aim: To evaluate timing and factors affecting initiation of advance care planning discussions for adult patients in Japan and Taiwan.

Design: Mixed-methods questionnaire survey to quantitatively determine percentages of patients willing to initiate advance care planning discussions at four stages of illness trajectory ranging from healthy to undeniably ill, and to identify qualitative perceptions underlying preferred timing.