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48 Findings from a scoping exercise of adult acute hospital trusts in england recording decisions about treatment escalation for those at risk of deterioration at the end of life
  1. Susi Lund1,2,
  2. Amanda Cummings1,2,
  3. Carl May1,2,3,
  4. Alison Richardson1,2,3,
  5. Natasha Campling1,2 and
  6. Michelle Myall1,2
  1. 1Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton, UK
  2. 2NIHR CLAHRC Wessex, University of Southampton, UK
  3. 3University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK

Abstract

Introduction Planning and communicating treatment decisions in a context of clinical uncertainty presents a key challenge. Increasing evidence supports the desirability of documenting a care-plan that addresses options about treatment escalation (Treatment Escalation Plan (TEP)) ensuring quality of healthcare for patients, in line with their wishes, prevention from distressing treatments and unnecessary harm as end of life approaches (Dalgaard et al., 2010, Carey et al., 2015, Obolensky et al., 2010, Gott et al., 2011, National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death, 2012, Fritz et al., 2013).

Aims To ascertain current procedures for recording treatment decisions in situations of clinical uncertainty. To identify and characterise key components of TEPs and understand the implications of these when incorporated into clinical practice.

Method A scoping exercise of all UK NHS adult acute Trusts. Telephone interviews were conducted to gain more indepth knowledge of processes and analysed using directed content analysis. Where a TEP was in use, content analysis was conducted to understand the structure and information required to complete them.

Results 55/150 Trusts provided details of systems used. Of these 43 had experience of using a TEP, 29 of which had been formally evaluated. A further 6 were sourced through online searches. There was wide variation in the processes used. Forms consistently attended to seven key components: Resuscitation; Communication; ceilings of care; supportive care; capacity; transferability; colour/format.

Conclusion TEPs are valuable in ensuring patients’ dignity and comfort when faced with acute pathophysiological deterioration at end of life and have potential to minimise harm from unnecessary and/or unwanted investigations and treatment. However, inconsistency in availability and incorporation into practice has implications for quality and consistency of patient care.

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