Table 2.

The Key Themes That Highlight the Importance and the Value of the “Goals of Care” Concept for Patients with Serious Illness

Key theme	Exemplary quotes
Promote patient autonomy and patient-centered care	“Ethically, goals of care discussions help formulate advance care decisions that are congruent with patient values, ensure respect for patient autonomy […].”
	“Treatment decisions should be based on patients’ goals of care to provide an ethical, patient-centered framework for decision-making.”
Avoid unwanted care and identify valued care	“Lack of consensus related to goals of care can leave residents, family, and staff feeling confused and can contribute to residents receiving care they do not want or missing out on care they value.”
	“[…] competencies in goals of care communication deserve special attention. These value-based discussions elicit treatment preferences and may decrease unwanted medical interventions at the end of life.”
Confer psychological support for patients and their families	“Using Goals of Care to guide decision-making about medical therapy in patients with advanced medical conditions is expected to enhance the quality of patient care by addressing the aspects of medical care and emotional support as part of a broader global care plan. This would likely alleviate the uncertainties of patients and families regarding decisions that involve limitations of medical care and may reduce refusals and delays in the process.”
	“In contrast to an approach centered on treatments, one centered on understanding patients’ goals of care not only improves end-of-life care, but can also decrease the psychological burden on families of critically ill patients […].”