Background Advance care planning (ACP) is recommended as part of routine care for patients with advanced cancer. Despite these recommendations ACP occurs in only a minority of cancer patients and studies show that cancer patients are receiving increasingly aggressive care towards the end of life (EOL).  

Aims: To evaluate in a randomised controlled trial the effect of a formal ACP on the documentation of cancer patients’ EOL wishes and compliance with known EOL wishes; the quality of death; mental health outcomes of patients’ nominated family or friends; the costs of care. We hypothesise that ACP may reduce inappropriate interventions at the end of life, improve satisfaction with EOL care and ameliorate the experience of bereaved family.

Methods ACP refers to the process by which patients, families and health professionals discuss and establish future goals of care in accordance with the patient’s values and preferences. It provides a formal means of informing health professionals and families of the patient’s wishes.  334 patients who have incurable cancer with disease progression after 1st line chemotherapy and an expected survival of less than 12 months, as well as their nominated family or friend, will be randomised to receive usual care or usual care plus nurse-delivered ACP.  Documentation and compliance with EOL wishes will be assessed by medical record review. Quality of death will be assessed via telephone interview and questionnaires. Costs of care will be assessed using data linkage methodology. 

Results An overview of related research and current progress on the study will be presented.

Conclusion (or Discussion) Evidence is needed to support the implementation of ACP.  If effective this intervention has the potential to improve the quality of death of patients with incurable cancer; improve family members or friends experience of the patients’ death; and reduce the costs of care.