Community-led, peer-facilitated Advance Care Planning workshops prompt increased Advance Care Planning behaviors among public attendees

Rachel Z Carter; Ellie Siden; Amber Husband; Doris Barwich; Shimae Soheilipour; Jennifer Kryworuchko; Richard Sawatzky; Arminee Kazanjian; Kelli Stajduhar; Eman Hassan

doi:10.1016/j.pecinn.2023.100199

Community-led, peer-facilitated Advance Care Planning workshops prompt increased Advance Care Planning behaviors among public attendees

PEC Innov. 2023 Aug 21:3:100199. doi: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2023.100199. eCollection 2023 Dec 15.

Authors

Rachel Z Carter^{1

2}, Ellie Siden³, Amber Husband¹, Doris Barwich^{1

2}, Shimae Soheilipour⁴, Jennifer Kryworuchko⁵, Richard Sawatzky^{6

7}, Arminee Kazanjian⁴, Kelli Stajduhar⁸, Eman Hassan^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ British Columbia Centre for Palliative Care, New Westminster, Canada.
² Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
³ Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
⁴ School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
⁵ School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
⁶ School of Nursing, Trinity Western University, Langley, Canada.
⁷ Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada.
⁸ School of Nursing, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada.

Abstract

Objective: Despite recognized benefits, engagement in Advance Care Planning (ACP) remains low. Research into peer-facilitated, group ACP interventions is limited. This study investigated the acceptability of community-led peer-facilitated ACP workshops for the public and whether these workshops are associated with increased knowledge, motivation and engagement in ACP behaviors.

Methods: Peer-facilitators from 9 community organizations were recruited and trained to deliver free ACP workshops to members of the public with an emphasis on conversation. Using a cohort design, workshop acceptability and engagement in ACP behaviors was assessed by surveying public participants at the end of the workshop and 4-6 weeks later.

Results: 217 participants returned post-workshop questionnaires, and 69 returned follow-up questionnaires. Over 90% of participants felt they gained knowledge across all 6 learning goals. Every ACP behavior saw a statistically significant increase in participant completion after 4-6 weeks. Almost all participants were glad they attended (94%) and would recommend the workshop to others (95%).

Conclusion: This study revealed an association of peer-facilitated ACP workshops and completion of ACP behaviors in public participants.

Innovation: This innovative approach supports investment in the spread of community-based, peer-facilitated ACP workshops for the public as important ACP promotion strategies.

Keywords: Advance Care Planning; Community networks; Community-based participatory research; Hospices.