Advance care planning in end-stage cirrhosis in a UK district general hospital.

Abstract

Advance care planning (ACP) has been shown to improve health-related quality of life (QoL) for patients with advanced liver disease and their caretakers.1,2 It is increasingly recognised that ACP alongside palliative input should be initiated in these patients early to help to address their needs as their disease progresses and facilitate completion of advance directives via discussion between healthcare professionals, patients and their carers.2 This study assessed the local practice of implementing ACP in patients with end-stage cirrhosis against international recommendations. We also explored quality of life (QoL), depression score, religious belief and spiritual needs in these patients using questionnaires. The findings of the study provide a better insight of our local patient cohort with advanced cirrhosis and allow us to improve our approach in delivering ACP to these patients.