Abstract
Context:
Surrogate decision makers experience significant amounts of anxiety, burden, and strain in their role as caregivers and decision makers for loved ones.
Objectives:
To investigate longitudinally whether surrogate decision makers engaging in ACP together with their loved one reduces perceived anxiety, burden, and strain felt by surrogate decision makers.
Methods:
Post-hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial evaluating caregivers’ perceived self-efficacy to serve as surrogate decision makers. The trial employed a 2×2 study design of patient/caregiver dyads who engaged in advance care planning (ACP) using a standard living will form vs “Making Your Wishes Known” (MYWK), and having the patient engage in ACP alone vs together with the family caregiver. Surrogates completed validated survey instruments surveys longitudinally to compare levels of anxiety, burden, and strain.
Results:
Conclusion:
Family caregivers who engaged in ACP together with patients using the decision support tool MYWK did not experience less strain, burden, or anxiety longitudinally compared to other study arms. These results may help inform the design of future studies and interventions that promote caregivers’ involvement in ACP interventions.
Keywords
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