Here - American Geriatrics Society

P OSTER
A BSTRACTS
concerns had been addressed during the visit, and wished that navigator
involvement could be ongoing. Oncologists described the presence
of the navigator as helpful and not burdensome or intrusive.
Conclusion A patient navigator who identifies older patients’
concerns before an oncology visit, accompanies them to a visit, and
debriefs with them afterwards can help to ensure that their concerns
are elicited and addressed.
B52
Association of Experience with Illness and End-of-life Care with
Advance Care Planning.
H. Amjad, 1 V. Towle, 1 T. Fried. 1,2 1. Yale University School of
Medicine, New Haven, CT; 2. VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West
Haven, CT.
Background: Advance care planning (ACP) remains an underused
tool in medical care, and identifying factors associated with increased
participation in ACP is important for the promotion of this
health behavior. This study examines the relationship between previous
experiences with illness and end-of-life care with the stages of
change for six ACP behaviors.
Methods: 304 individuals aged 65 and older were recruited from
physician practices and a senior center. Participants were asked
whether they had ever faced a life-threatening illness or surgery. They
were also asked whether they had ever made a medical decision for
someone who was dying, whether they knew someone who they believe
had a bad death due to receiving too much or too little medical
care, and whether they had experienced the death of a loved one who
made his or her wishes about end-of-life known. Stages of change
were assessed for six ACP behaviors: completion of a living will and
healthcare proxy, communication with loved ones regarding use of
life-sustaining treatments and quantity versus quality of life, and communication
with physicians about these same topics. Mantel-Haenszel
chi-square analysis was used to examine the association between
each life experience and stages of change for each ACP behavior.
Results: 84% of participants had experiences with their own illness
or end-of-life care for a loved one. Personal experience with lifethreatening
illness was not associated with increased readiness to participate
in ACP behaviors except for discussing life-sustaining
treatments with loved ones (p