Background

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is the process of planning for both current and future health care.  It involves consideration of values, beliefs and preference of the patient with their family and health professionals.  There is increasing acknowledgement of the role of ACP within paediatrics.

Aims

1. To develop a clinical tool and form that would allow best practice ACP within Queensland

2. To describe the iterative process of developing this form since 2016

Methods

A collaborative and interdisciplinary committee was formed to assess forms used in other jurisdictions, and to determine what would work best in Queensland.  Voicing My Choices from the USA was acknowledged as one exemplar tool.  At the same time the adult based Statement of Choices also had a number of strengths which could be integrated into the paediatric tool.  The committee were able to develop a pilot paediatric Statement of Choices which could be trialled at the Queensland Children’s Hospital. 

Results

The pilot implementation of the tool will be discussed including feedback from consumers who have used the form.  Preliminary results include positive feedback from parents. One father said: “I like that we are able to write a statement of choice, when we feel comfortable to write it”. A mother said: “It is a holistic approach.  It is not just talking about end of life wishes.  It talks about who your child is, what they like and how you want them cared from what makes them comfortable.  Things that you don’t necessarily get on a resuscitation order”.

Conclusions

Development of the pilot form and tool has been well received from parents who have used the tool.  It is important to utilise ACP discussions and associated tools for patients who have an open-ness to use such tools.  Next steps in implementation of this pilot tool will also be discussed.