Table 1 Study eligibility criteria
Eligibility criterion | Rationale |
|---|---|
Randomized, controlled trial or prospective observational study, published in peer-reviewed journal | Randomized controlled trials and prospective observational study experimental designs are least likely to lead to biased results |
Evaluates a structured communication tool (decision aid, structured meeting, educational strategy) compared to control group | • Interest in comparing wide variety of interventions, in multiple formats (verbal, paper, video, computer, etc.) • A control group is required to assess whether the intervention is better than usual care as routinely practiced (recognizing that usual care may vary based on setting) |
Communication tool must address end-of-life decision-making | Review interest is in interventions that assist patients with decision-making, as opposed to those that address breaking bad news, patient comfort alone |
Adult patients (age >18Â years) | End-of-life decision-making process in frail adults is likely to be qualitatively different from that in children |
English language | Communication tools published in other languages, with no English translation available, may not be generalizable to english-language settings |