Abstract
Introduction:
There is limited understanding of critical care (CC) and specialist palliative care (SPC) professionals’ perceptions regarding the role and utility of SPC for patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
Methods:
An 18-item survey was distributed via convenience sampling and snowballing strategies to CC and SPC attendings working with veno-venous ECMO patients.
Results:
A total of 75 surveys were completed. Many CC professionals indicated that SPC consultation was not routinely helpful (5% vs. 71%, p < 0.05). Responses varied on the appropriateness of discussing SPC with patients/families prognosis (81% SPC vs. 47% CC, p < 0.05), end-of-life preferences (100% vs. 62%, p < 0.05), goals of care (95% vs. 58%, p < 0.05), and code status (76% vs. 43%, p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Most respondents indicated that psychosocial support and multidisciplinary team collaborations were within the SPC scope. CC professionals were less likely to indicate that discussion of the care trajectory with patients/families was within SPC scope.
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