POLST: House Staff Knowledge and Attitudes (TH340D)

An abstract of a study by Mehta et al determining trainees understanding of the Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment (POLST) tool application for advance care planning is presented. Seventy-nine percent of respondents had reviewed and completed POLST during their training. Sixty-seven percent felt comfortable discussing and completing POLST forms with patients. However 20% did not know which patients were appropriate for POLST discussions. Seventy-seven percent identified that health care professionals must sign POLST form but 72% answered incorrectly or did not know which sections to complete. Forty-nine percent answered incorrectly or did not know that POLST is not based on existing advance directive. Fifty-one percent of respondents preferred to call Palliative Medicine for questions related to POLST. Ninety-one percent agreed to have additional POLST training.