Building successful coalitions to promote advance care planning

This qualitative study explored the challenges and successes of an advance care planning (ACP) coalition formed at the University of Wisconsin called Life Planning 2000. Data were obtained from key informant interviews (n = 24) and grounded theory. Major themes included commitment (the need for leadership, recruitment of key persons, and funding); cohesiveness (disparate groups collaborating toward a common purpose); and outcomes (including educational tool development). Coalitions need to define short-, intermediate-, and long-term goals that result in measurable outcomes and an evaluation process. Resources must be commensurate with goals. Results indicate that strong leadership, paid staff, adequate funding, and the collaboration of diverse groups working toward a common goal are essential if a coalition promoting end-of-life (EOL) care planning is to be successful.