Advance care planning: The knowledge, attitudes and experiences of medical-surgical nurses in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Abstract

Advance care planning (ACP) is defined as a process of open communication and information sharing between the health care team, the patient, and his/her family to enable patient’s wishes for future care and medical treatment to be explored and supported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of medical-surgical nurses working in Winnipeg, Manitoba in relation to ACP. This cross-sectional descriptive study involved the use of a questionnaire developed and used in Singapore and assessed for face validity by local experts. A sample of 218 registered nurses responded to the web-based survey. Nurses were found to have: a sound understanding of foundational ACP concepts; communal and also varied attitudes toward ACP; and reported variable levels of involvement in ACP with patients and families. The results of this study can be used to inform change within both the educational and clinical care settings.