Advance care planning: a practical guide

Abstract

Advance care planning is a process of discussion between health professionals and patients that allows shared decision-making regarding current and/or future health care objectives, based on patient desires and values and technical care issues. Advance care is considered fundamental in the provision of terminal care of excellence, allowing health professionals to align the care provided with what is most important to the patient. Despite its benefits, it remains underused in clinical practice, especially in Brazil. Considering the need for practical guides for advance care planning adapted to the Brazilian reality, based on empathic communication strategies, this study is a guide proposal based on an integrative literature review (PubMed and SciELO), with recommendations of current evidence, including instruments validated for Portuguese (Brazil), to facilitate its implementation in clinical practice.