Table 3.

Comparison across groups of key issues related to the decision aid

	Non‐Palliative Care Providers	Palliative care providers	Patients
Clinical context: Meaning What does it mean when provider introduces decision aid?	I agree it can set the wrong tone where you're almost like handing them this [decision aid] and… they probably think, ‘Oh my God! My doc thinks I'm dying.’ And maybe they are, but…that's not the impression you necessarily want to [give]…	People just don't like to talk about it whether it's a patient or a doctor. I mean, but you still have to, you know, so…I mean yeah, I think probably a lot of those are just reflecting their own fears or their own on their patients.	It's just normal things [illness and eventual death] that happen. Why should you hide it? And it [decision aid] shouldn't just be for people that are elderly!
Clinical Context: Logistics When should the decision aid be introduced?	We're often as hospitalists forced to have the conversation with the person even though we're just meeting them or it's something that we think should have been maybe addressed a long time ago. We're often kind of the ones who end up talking to people about it because it comes down to us.	I think the context of it [decision aid being introduced] really makes a difference ….we're just way too downstream. And I think the further you go upstream, the less frightening it is	…maybe if I'm not ill…maybe that would be the time to say ‘Have you thought about this…?’ I mean I don't think it's something you can bring up too soon… I think earlier would be better.
Global Context	it's [discussion of serious/advanced illness] so misunderstood because…I think it's still in American culture if we're not doing something curative or life sustaining then we're giving up.	…it's[discussion of serious/advanced illness] still an uncomfortable thing even though it's our profession and we should be discussing this with all of our patients regardless, you know, doctors still have their own issues and I think those things in itself can just be threatening too.	[it becomes easier over time] If you have been associated with a terminal illness in somebody, you get pretty immune to talking about what's going on. I mean you've been there. You've done it. And then when it comes your turn, at least you've got that experience to back you up. Which is helpful I think.