GPs fail to consider their own end of life care
GPs are as unlikely to discuss their decisions about their own end-of-life care with their families as their patients are, a survey for The King’s Fund has shown. Yet most say GPs should encourage patients to talk to their families about their wishes.
More than two-thirds (68%) of GPs who took part in the survey, conducted by ComRes on behalf of The King’s Fund, said they had not discussed with their own doctor, family or friends how they would like to be looked after if they knew they did not have long to live, which is a similar proportion to that found in surveys of the public. Of those who had talked about their end-of-life care, most had discussed their medical needs, dying with dignity and support, privacy and peace, pain relief and where they would prefer to die.
GPs who hadn’t discussed end-of-life matters with their family were most likely to say it was because death seemed a long way off (for 43% of respondents) or they just hadn’t thought about it (42%). Discomfort about the topic was the reason for their reluctance for only very few (7%) GPs.
GPs’ most important concern about their own end-of-life care was not to be a burden on other people (given a mean ranking of 4.8 out of 6), followed by wanting others to listen and be respectful of their wishes (ranked 3.9) and to be peaceful/calm (3.3) and retain dignity (3.2).
Fewer than half (42%) of GPs had talked to their own relatives about whether or not they wished to donate their organs on their death, and fewer than a quarter (23%) had discussed their funeral plans. Only 5% had written a living will or advance care plan stating their wishes. Little over a third (39%) had made provisions to support themselves financially if they became terminally ill.
Three-quarters (76%) of the 501 GPs surveyed said that their role in end-of-life care is “essential, it is an integral part of my job” and 75% said GPs should actively encourage patients to plan for their end-of-life care. The majority (79%) said they thought GPs should have more of a role in the end-of-life care of their patients.
Almost half (48%) of all the GPs questioned said they would welcome access to counselling or further support to help them to deal with patients who are dying.
By OnMedica staff. To view the original article click here.
