Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38943119›Full record

ArticleBMC palliative care2024

Evaluation of interactive web-based tools to stimulate reflection and communication about advance care planning with people with dementia and their family caregivers.

Fanny Monnet, Lara Pivodic, Charlèss Dupont, Tinne Smets, Aline De Vleminck, Chantal Van Audenhove, Lieve Van den Block

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC palliative care, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Fanny MonnetEnd-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium. fanny.monnet@vub.be.
Lara PivodicEnd-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium.
Charlèss DupontEnd-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium.
Tinne SmetsEnd-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium.
Aline De VleminckEnd-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium.
Chantal Van AudenhoveLUCAS Center for Care Research and Consultancy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Lieve Van den BlockEnd-of-Life Care Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) & Ghent University, Laarbeeklaan 103, Brussels, 1090, Belgium.

Funding

Marie Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN), H2020-MSCA-ITN-2018 grant agreement No 813196Research Foundation - Flanders file number S002219N
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPeople with dementia and their family caregivers often encounter challenges in engaging in advance care planning (ACP), such as a lack of information and difficulties in engaging in ACP conversations. Using a user-centred design, we developed two interactive web-based tools as part of an ACP support website to stimulate ACP reflection and communication: (1) the 'Thinking Now About Later' tool, with open-ended questions about 'what matters most', and (2) a digital version of the 'Life Wishes Cards', a card tool with pre-formulated statements that prompt reflection about wishes for future care. This study aimed to evaluate the use of and experiences with two web-based tools by people with dementia and their family caregivers.

methodsDuring an eight-week period, people with dementia and family caregivers were invited to use the ACP support website in the way they preferred. The mixed-methods evaluation of the ACP tools involved capturing log data to assess website use and semi-structured qualitative interviews to capture experiences. Analyses included descriptive statistics of log data and framework analysis for qualitative data.

resultsOf 52 participants, 21 people had dementia and 31 were family caregivers. The 'Thinking Now About Later' tool and 'Life Wishes Cards' were accessed 136 and 91 times respectively, with an average session duration of 14 minutes (SD = 27.45 minutes). 22 participants actively engaged with the tools, with the majority using the tools once, and seven revisiting them. Those who used the tools valued the guidance it provided for ACP conversations between people with dementia and their family caregivers. Participants reported that people with dementia experienced barriers to using the tools on their own, hence family caregivers usually facilitated the use and participation of people with dementia. Some highlighted not knowing what next steps to take after completing the tools online.

conclusionsAlthough less than half the people used the ACP tools, those who used them found them helpful to facilitate communication between people with dementia and their family. Family caregivers of people with dementia played a crucial role in facilitating the use of the web-based tools.

Indexed as

Advance Care PlanningCaregiversCommunicationDementiaInternetAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchAdvance care planningCommunicationDementiaReflectionWeb-based tools

Identifiers

PMID38943119
PMCPMC11212172

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.