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Joyce Chung Oi Kwan

 

Joyce Chung Oi Kwan

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong

Abstract Title: Concurrence of Patient-Family Member End-of-Life Treatment Preferences in Palliative Care Setting in Hong Kong: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Biography:

Prof. Joyce Chung is an Associate Professor in the School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and the Deputy Director of the Director- Centre of Evidence-based Practice for Health Care Policy, PolyU. Her research interests include pediatric oncology, child and adolescent health, resilience, palliative care and advance care planning.

Research Interest:

Patients should communicate their end-of-life treatment preferences to family members for appropriate care decisions when they can no longer decide. However, in Chinese society, few family members are aware of these preferences. This study aims to explore the level of concurrence of EOL treatment preferences between palliative care patients and their family members, and identify potential factors influencing the concurrence level in Hong Kong. It is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a a structured, family-supported, and patient- centred advance care planning on end-of-life decision making among palliative care patients and their family members. A total of 170 patient-family member dyads completed a baseline questionnaire in an RCT regarding end-of-life (EOL) treatment preferences across six situations. The average concurrence score was 3.123 (SD = 2.148) on a scale of 0 to 6, with only 20.6% (n = 35) achieving full concurrence. Regression analysis revealed that the patients cognitive level (β = 0.223, p = 0.002), family members age (β = 0.248, p < 0.001), and decision confidence scores (β = 0.221, p = 0.002) were positively associated with concurrence scores. Our study showed a suboptimal concurrence level in patient-family member EOL treatment preferences in a palliative care setting in Hong Kong. Early advance care planning (ACP) interventions should be implemented while patients remain cognitively intact. It is essential to develop targeted support for family members with low decision confidence to improve their ability to make appropriate care decisions for patients who can no longer decide for themselves.