Decision coaching for people with kidney failure: a case study

Background

Little is known about the usefulness of decision coaching for people with kidney failure facing decisions about end-of-life care.

Objectives

To investigate experiences of people with kidney failure who received decision coaching for end-of-life care decisions.

Design

We conducted a prospective case study bound by time (September to December 2021), location (one nephrology department), and guided by the Ottawa Decision Support Framework.

Participants

Adults with kidney failure facing end-of-life care decisions.

Measurements

A nurse trained in decision coaching screened for unmet decisional needs with the SURE test and provided decision coaching using the Ottawa Personal Decision Guide. Postcoaching, the participants were rescreened using the SURE test and interviewed to explore their experience with decision coaching. Change in SURE test findings was analysed descriptively and systematic text condensation was used for the analysis of interviews. Recorded decision coaching sessions underwent content analysis using the Decision Support Analysis Tool.

Results

Decision coaching was provided to four adults with kidney failure. Median pre-SURE test score was 2.5 (range 2–4) and posttest score was 3 (range 3–4), indicating a decrease in decisional needs. Participants described that decision coaching provided an overview of features of options to consider, identified remaining decisional needs for further discussion with relatives and health professionals and clarified next steps. Median Decision Support Analysis Tool score was 9 (range 8–9).

Conclusions

After decision coaching, results suggest that the participants experienced fewer decisional needs and seemed clearer about the next steps in the decision making process.