Barriers to connecting with the voluntary assisted dying system in Victoria, Australia: A qualitative mixed method study.

Introduction: Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is increasingly being legalised internationally. In Australia, all six states have now passed such laws, with Victoria being the first in 2019. However, early research in Victoria on the patient experience of seeking VAD shows that finding a connection to...

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Publicado en:Health Expectations Vol. 26; no. 6; pp. 2695 - 2709
Autores principales: White, Ben P., Jeanneret, Ruthie, Willmott, Lindy
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Wiley-Blackwell Dec2023
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: Barriers to connecting with the voluntary assisted dying system in Victoria, Australia: A qualitative mixed method study.
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          White, Ben P.
          Jeanneret, Ruthie
          Willmott, Lindy
        affil: Australian Centre for Health Law Research, Faculty of Business and Law, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Queensland, , Australia
      sug:
        subj:
          Suicide, Assisted Legislation and Jurisprudence
          Health Services Accessibility
          Physicians Legislation and Jurisprudence
          Health Literacy
          Caregiver Attitudes Evaluation
          Patient Attitudes Evaluation
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Adult
          Middle Age
          Aged
          Aged, 80 and Over
          Multimethod Studies
          Australia
          Semi-Structured Interview
          Data Analysis Software
          Interview Guides
          Victoria
          Thematic Analysis
          Content Analysis
          Funding Source
          Convenience Sample
          Purposive Sample
          Patient Navigation
          Eligibility Determination
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Aged: 65+ years
          Aged, 80 & over
          Male
          Female
      ab: Introduction: Voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is increasingly being legalised internationally. In Australia, all six states have now passed such laws, with Victoria being the first in 2019. However, early research in Victoria on the patient experience of seeking VAD shows that finding a connection to the VAD system is challenging. This study analyses the causes of this 'point of access' barrier. Methods: We conducted semi‐structured qualitative interviews with family caregivers and a person seeking VAD, with participants recruited via social media and patient interest groups. Data were thematically analysed. We also undertook documentary analysis (content and thematic) of publicly available reports from the oversight body, the Voluntary Assisted Dying Review Board. Results: We interviewed 32 family caregivers and one patient across 28 interviews and analysed six Board reports. Finding a point of access to the VAD system was reported as challenging in both interviews and reports. Four specific barriers to connecting with the system were identified: (1) not knowing VAD exists as a legal option; (2) not recognising a person is potentially eligible for VAD; (3) not knowing next steps or not being able to achieve them in practice; and (4) challenges with patients being required to raise the topic of VAD because doctors are legally prohibited from doing so. Conclusion: Legal, policy and practice changes are needed to facilitate patients being able to find a connection to the VAD system. The legal prohibition on doctors raising the topic of VAD should be repealed, and doctors and institutions who do not wish to be involved in VAD should be required to connect patients with appropriate contacts within the system. Community awareness initiatives are needed to enhance awareness of VAD, especially given it is relatively new in Victoria. Patient or Public Contribution: Families and a patient were the focus of this research and interviews with them about the experience of seeking VAD were the primary source of data analysed. This article includes their solutions to address the identified point of access barriers. Patient interest groups also supported the recruitment of participants.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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