Exploring the Topics Discussed During a Conversation Card Game About Death and Dying: A Content Analysis

Lauren Jodi Van Scoy; Jean M. Reading; Allison M. Scott; Cynthia Chuang; Benjamin H. Levi; Michael J. Green

doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.03.021

Exploring the Topics Discussed During a Conversation Card Game About Death and Dying: A Content Analysis

Lauren Jodi Van Scoy, Jean M. Reading, Allison M. Scott, Cynthia Chuang, Benjamin H. Levi, Michael J. Green

Communication

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

Context Substantive discussions between loved ones are necessary for effective advance care planning. Although multiple tools are currently in use for promoting conversations, the content and clinical relevance of the conversations they stimulate is unknown. Objective To describe the content and clinical relevance of conversations that occur during a nonfacilitated end-of-life conversation game. Methods Using convenience sampling, we scheduled adult volunteers to participate in an end-of-life conversation game (2–6 individuals per game; n = 68). Participants discussed 20 questions about death, dying, or end-of-life issues. Games lasted up to two hours and were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a conventional qualitative content analysis approach to identify emerging themes. Results Participants (n = 68) were primarily Caucasian (94%), females (68%), with mean age of 51.3 years (SD 0.7). Seventeen games were analyzed. Four primary themes emerged during game conversations: 1) the importance of people, relationships, and the roles played during end-of-life decision making, 2) values, beliefs, and preferences related to end-of-life care and the dying period, 3) considerations about preparing for the aftermath of one's death, and 4) the relevance of stories or experiences for informing one's own end-of-life preferences. Conclusions Topics discussed during a nonfacilitated end-of-life conversation game are substantive and address important issues for advance care planning.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	655-662
Number of pages	8
Journal	Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
Volume	52
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.03.021
State	Published - Nov 1 2016

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank Jessica Kraft and Michael Klemick for their assistance with coding of the study data, Brooke Skelley for her transcription services, and Margaret Hopkins for her assistance with project development and article review. This study was funded in part by the Social Science Research Institute at Penn State University, the Milton S. Hershey Penn State College of Medicine , Department of Medicine. Dr. Van Scoy receives funding from the Parker B. Francis Foundation of the American Thoracic Society.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Keywords

Advance directives
communication
end-of-life care
medical decision making
palliative care
terminal care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Nursing (all)
Clinical Neurology
Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

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10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.03.021

Cite this

@article{6f8da22fe281406b99e914ed60b58996,

title = "Exploring the Topics Discussed During a Conversation Card Game About Death and Dying: A Content Analysis",

abstract = "Context Substantive discussions between loved ones are necessary for effective advance care planning. Although multiple tools are currently in use for promoting conversations, the content and clinical relevance of the conversations they stimulate is unknown. Objective To describe the content and clinical relevance of conversations that occur during a nonfacilitated end-of-life conversation game. Methods Using convenience sampling, we scheduled adult volunteers to participate in an end-of-life conversation game (2–6 individuals per game; n = 68). Participants discussed 20 questions about death, dying, or end-of-life issues. Games lasted up to two hours and were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a conventional qualitative content analysis approach to identify emerging themes. Results Participants (n = 68) were primarily Caucasian (94%), females (68%), with mean age of 51.3 years (SD 0.7). Seventeen games were analyzed. Four primary themes emerged during game conversations: 1) the importance of people, relationships, and the roles played during end-of-life decision making, 2) values, beliefs, and preferences related to end-of-life care and the dying period, 3) considerations about preparing for the aftermath of one's death, and 4) the relevance of stories or experiences for informing one's own end-of-life preferences. Conclusions Topics discussed during a nonfacilitated end-of-life conversation game are substantive and address important issues for advance care planning.",

keywords = "Advance directives, communication, end-of-life care, medical decision making, palliative care, terminal care",

author = "{Van Scoy}, {Lauren Jodi} and Reading, {Jean M.} and Scott, {Allison M.} and Cynthia Chuang and Levi, {Benjamin H.} and Green, {Michael J.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Jessica Kraft and Michael Klemick for their assistance with coding of the study data, Brooke Skelley for her transcription services, and Margaret Hopkins for her assistance with project development and article review. This study was funded in part by the Social Science Research Institute at Penn State University, the Milton S. Hershey Penn State College of Medicine , Department of Medicine. Dr. Van Scoy receives funding from the Parker B. Francis Foundation of the American Thoracic Society. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine",

year = "2016",

month = nov,

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doi = "10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.03.021",

language = "English",

volume = "52",

pages = "655--662",

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T1 - Exploring the Topics Discussed During a Conversation Card Game About Death and Dying

T2 - A Content Analysis

AU - Van Scoy, Lauren Jodi

AU - Reading, Jean M.

AU - Scott, Allison M.

AU - Chuang, Cynthia

AU - Levi, Benjamin H.

AU - Green, Michael J.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank Jessica Kraft and Michael Klemick for their assistance with coding of the study data, Brooke Skelley for her transcription services, and Margaret Hopkins for her assistance with project development and article review. This study was funded in part by the Social Science Research Institute at Penn State University, the Milton S. Hershey Penn State College of Medicine , Department of Medicine. Dr. Van Scoy receives funding from the Parker B. Francis Foundation of the American Thoracic Society. Publisher Copyright: © 2016 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine

PY - 2016/11/1

Y1 - 2016/11/1

N2 - Context Substantive discussions between loved ones are necessary for effective advance care planning. Although multiple tools are currently in use for promoting conversations, the content and clinical relevance of the conversations they stimulate is unknown. Objective To describe the content and clinical relevance of conversations that occur during a nonfacilitated end-of-life conversation game. Methods Using convenience sampling, we scheduled adult volunteers to participate in an end-of-life conversation game (2–6 individuals per game; n = 68). Participants discussed 20 questions about death, dying, or end-of-life issues. Games lasted up to two hours and were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a conventional qualitative content analysis approach to identify emerging themes. Results Participants (n = 68) were primarily Caucasian (94%), females (68%), with mean age of 51.3 years (SD 0.7). Seventeen games were analyzed. Four primary themes emerged during game conversations: 1) the importance of people, relationships, and the roles played during end-of-life decision making, 2) values, beliefs, and preferences related to end-of-life care and the dying period, 3) considerations about preparing for the aftermath of one's death, and 4) the relevance of stories or experiences for informing one's own end-of-life preferences. Conclusions Topics discussed during a nonfacilitated end-of-life conversation game are substantive and address important issues for advance care planning.

AB - Context Substantive discussions between loved ones are necessary for effective advance care planning. Although multiple tools are currently in use for promoting conversations, the content and clinical relevance of the conversations they stimulate is unknown. Objective To describe the content and clinical relevance of conversations that occur during a nonfacilitated end-of-life conversation game. Methods Using convenience sampling, we scheduled adult volunteers to participate in an end-of-life conversation game (2–6 individuals per game; n = 68). Participants discussed 20 questions about death, dying, or end-of-life issues. Games lasted up to two hours and were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a conventional qualitative content analysis approach to identify emerging themes. Results Participants (n = 68) were primarily Caucasian (94%), females (68%), with mean age of 51.3 years (SD 0.7). Seventeen games were analyzed. Four primary themes emerged during game conversations: 1) the importance of people, relationships, and the roles played during end-of-life decision making, 2) values, beliefs, and preferences related to end-of-life care and the dying period, 3) considerations about preparing for the aftermath of one's death, and 4) the relevance of stories or experiences for informing one's own end-of-life preferences. Conclusions Topics discussed during a nonfacilitated end-of-life conversation game are substantive and address important issues for advance care planning.

KW - Advance directives

KW - communication

KW - end-of-life care

KW - medical decision making

KW - palliative care

KW - terminal care

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JO - Journal of Pain and Symptom Management

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Exploring the Topics Discussed During a Conversation Card Game About Death and Dying: A Content Analysis

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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