Decision-making for older patients undergoing Emergency Laparotomy: Defining Patient and Clinician Values and Priorities.
Javanmard-Emamghissi, H
Javanmard-Emamghissi, H
Abstract
AIM: There remains limited knowledge on what patients value and prioritise in their decision to undergo emergency laparotomy (ELap) and during their subsequent recovery. The aim of this study was to explore factors in decision-making, and to reach a consensus amongst patients on the ten most important priorities in decision-making in ELap. METHODS: Patients aged over 65 years who had required an ELap decision within the preceding 12 months (regardless of management) were identified and invited to attend a modified Delphi process focus group. RESULTS: A total of 20 participants attended: 8 patients, 4 relatives and 8 peri-operative specialists (POS). The POS group defined 12 important factors for peri-operative decision making. The patient group agreed only six (50%) of these factors were important; independence, post-operative complications, readmission to hospital, requirement for stoma formation and delirium (including long-term cognition). Open discussion refined multiple themes. Agreement was reached by patients and relatives about 10 factors that they valued as most important in their ELap patient journey: return to independence, realistic expectations, post-operative complications, what to expect post-operatively, readmission to hospital, nutrition, post-operative communication, stoma, follow-up and delirium. CONCLUSION: Patients and clinicians have different values and priorities when discussing the risks and implications of undergoing ELap. Patients value quality of life outcomes, in particular, the formation of a stoma, returning to their own home and remaining independent. This work is the first to combine both perspectives to guide future ELap research outcomes.
MIDER Authors
Affiliations
Citations
Altmetric:
Date
2020-05
Type
Article
Subject
Collections
Citation
Colorectal Dis. 2020 May 28. doi: 10.1111/codi.15165. [Epub ahead of print]
Journal / Source Title
DOI
PMID
Publisher
Publisher’s URL
Publisher’s statement
Author(s) pre-print version only. 12 month embargo on post. No PDF