Understanding Advance Care Planning in WA: One year from the release of the Advance Health Directive and Advance Care Planning resources

Closed 15 Nov 2023

Opened 23 Oct 2023

Contact

EOLC Program

9222 2300

acp@health.wa.gov.au

Feedback updated 21 Mar 2024

We asked

In October/November 2023, the WA Department of Health End of Life Care (EOLC) Program conducted a consultation to gain a better understanding of the current uptake of advance care planning (ACP) and use of ACP resources in WA. The survey sought feedback on the revised WA Advance Health Directive (AHD) and suite of ACP resources that were released on 4 August 2022.

You said

69 respondents completed the survey with 76% reporting they thought the resources were very effective/ effective. Reported levels of awareness and use of the key ACP resources (Advance Health Directive and accompanying Guide, Values and Preferences Form, Your Guide to ACP in WA: Workbook) was high. Qualitative feedback on the resources was largely positive indicating the information within the resources is clear and comprehensive with a broad range of diversity represented within the images. Areas of concern that were noted included the literacy level and length of some of the resources.

The most common ACP activity reported within the last 12 months was ACP conversations with family, carers or friends.

Health professionals reported they were moderately or very confident in supporting patients with ACP. However, there were a small number of respondents to this question so the results may not be indicative of true levels of confidence across the whole workforce.

We did

The findings informed the development of several actions that the EOLC Team is currently implementing alongside existing work plans and priorities. This includes exploring possibilities to simplify the range of ACP information, arranging targeted awareness around common misconceptions, coordinating general awareness raising of ACP and investigating further opportunities for health professional education.

Overview

The WA Department of Health End of Life Care (EOLC) Program welcomes your views to gain a better understanding of the current uptake of advance care planning (ACP) and use of ACP resources in WA via this online survey.

Advance care planning (ACP) is a voluntary process of planning for future health and personal care whereby the person’s values, beliefs and preferences are made known to guide decision-making at a future time when that person cannot make or communicate their decisions.

On the 4 August 2022, the EOLC Program released a revised WA Advance Health Directive (AHD) along with a suite of ACP resources designed to guide individuals, and the health professionals supporting them, through the process of advance care planning and completing the new AHD document.

The new AHD and ACP resources were developed in response to recommendations from the 2018 My Life My Choice Report and a subsequent Ministerial Expert Panel report on Advance Health Directives. The process of development included extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including consumers, carers, community organisations, health and legal professionals, and health and aged care providers. 

The new resources include:

  • the revised AHD
  • the Guide to Making an AHD in WA
  • Your Guide to ACP in WA - A workbook for planning your future care (including an easy read version)
  • the Values and Preferences Form
  • the Health Professional Guide to ACP in WA
  • updated brochures, factsheets and webpages on WA Health consumer (healthywa.wa.gov.au/AdvanceCarePlanning) and WA Health corporate (health.wa.gov.au/ACP) websites
  • educational videos for consumers and health professionals
  • a quick reference sheet explaining the new ACP resources in WA and when to use them.

Additional tools for health professionals include: 

  • a 5-minute Take5 tool designed to deliver key messages about the revised AHD to busy health professionals across the Health Service Providers 
  • template ACP education slides for use by anyone delivering ACP education to health professionals.

Why your views matter

It has now been a year since the release of the materials. The EOLC Program is seeking your views on the revised resources to ensure they are meeting the needs of the community. We are also keen to understand the current uptake of advance care planning in WA.

We encourage all members of the WA community to complete this online survey. We are particularly interested in the views of people who have completed or are considering completing an AHD or undertaking ACP, health professionals, and others who assist their patients and clients in the completion of an AHD or in ACP.

The information from this survey will be used to improve the resources, identify opportunities to improve the uptake of ACP and guide the ongoing work of the EOLC program.

About the survey

The survey is expected to take about 15-30 minutes to complete.

You can choose to complete all, or only some, of the survey questions.

You can choose to remain anonymous while responding to this survey.

You may exit the survey at any time and can save your progress by providing your email address.

To begin the survey, click on the 'Online Survey' link below.

If you have any queries, please email the EOLC Program at acp@health.wa.gov.au or phone 08 9222 2300.

Audiences

  • Consumers
  • WA Health Service Providers

Interests

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