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Research Article: Pediatric Advance Care Planning: A Scoping Review

Date Published: 2023-07-07

Abstract:
To assess current practice and provide a basis for a provincial template, clinicians at a Canadian pediatric hospice reviewed the literature surrounding pediatric advance care planning (pACP) documentation, process, and implementation for children/youth. The scoping review protocol was developed in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews, and was prospectively registered on the Open Science Framework. MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, the Web of Science Core Collection, and Google Scholar, as well as sources of unpublished studies and grey literature, were reviewed. Sixty-four articles met the criteria. Fifteen pACP documentation forms/tools were also identified. Overall, the included articles highlighted that pACP should be a structured, collaborative and iterative process between the family and a trusted or relevant healthcare provider, encompassing medical and non-medical issues. Few articles provided insights into specific elements recommended for advance directive forms. Identified strategies for implementation included a structured, step-by-step pACP interventional tool along with ongoing training, mentorship, and defined organizational structures for the clinician. No single specific ACP tool was acknowledged as the gold standard. Use of a pACP tool, along with ongoing provider education and communication skill development, standardized/accessible documentation, and system-wide quality improvement support, were noted as integral components of pACP.

Introduction:
Currently across Canada, there are inconsistencies in practice regarding overarching provincial guidance and documentation of goals of care (GOC) for children with serious illness medical complexity (i.e., life-threatening/life-limiting illnesses) who require advance care planning (ACP); furthermore, there is a lack of clarity regarding the law and provincial legislature. Pediatric ACP (pACP) is a process that seeks to explore the values, beliefs and wishes to support informed healthcare decision-making and guide…

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