ACTION

Prof. Agnes van der Heide

Scientific Coordinator of ACTION, based at Erasmus University Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Research field

Palliative Care

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Who?

“We want to help patients who are in the last stage of life to discuss painful topics”, says Agnes van der Heide. She is Professor of end of life care and decision making at Erasmus Medical Centre in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She coordinates the ACTION project together with Dr Ida Korfage and Dr Judith Rietjens.

Why?

Advanced cancer seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Open and respectful communication about end of life care wishes is important to these patients. However, discussing these wishes is hard for healthcare professionals as well as patients and relatives. ACP may help patients to make their wishes known and followed.

What?

Ida Korfage explains: “We study the effect of advance care planning in patients with end stage cancer. Advance care planning (ACP) is a formalised process of communication between patients, relatives and professional caregivers. It enables patients to express views, values and treatment choices about their future care."

How?

“At least 20 hospitals in 6 countries will participate in ACTION. We plan to include 1334 patients with advanced lung or colorectal cancer. The patients will receive either ACP or ‘care as usual’. We will compare the self-reported quality of life and physical complaints of these two groups”, says Judith Rietjens.

Helping people to discuss end of life wishes

ACTION aims to improve comfort and quality of care for patients with advanced cancer.

ACP has the potential to increase the extent to which care addresses patients' needs and preferences

Image credit: Ryan Stone

ACP promotes the documentation of patients' preferences in their medical file.

Image credit: Doug Waldron

Dr Ida Korfage (co-lead), Prof. Agnes van der Heide (Scientific Coordinator) and Dr Judith Rietjens (co-lead)

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ACTION project website Respecting Choices: Advance Care Planning IMPACT (another European project about palliative care) European Association for Palliative Care In focus article 'Personalised cancer care'

PDF version

Background image: Ryan Stone

Portrait of the project coordinator: ACTION

Timeline (in chronological order): ACTION