4. Outcomes: evaluation of the communication (primary).

Primary outcome: evaluation of the communication Positive constructs (e.g. satisfaction, calmness or confidence about ability to manage the future) Negative constructs (e.g. fear, anxiety, distress)
Study ID	Quality of communication	Satisfaction with consultation (communication)	Patient‐centred communication	Preferences for involvement	Goal‐consistent care	Patient‐physician relationship
Agar 2017	‐	‐	X Person‐centred approach to care Care and Activities and Interpersonal Relationships and Interactions domain of Person‐Centred Environment and Care Assessment Tool; 18 items, each rated 0 (not at all) to 3 (all of the time); rated by observation, resident and family reports and documentation No data	‐	‐	‐
Au 2012	X Quality of Communication questionnaire, (scored 0 to 100, higher better); 2 weeks	‐	‐	‐	‐	‐
Bernacki 2019	X Quality of Communication scale, timing, scoring unclear No data	‐	‐	‐	X No goals met. Life Priorities Survey (patients), Family Perceptions Survey (surrogates). Baseline, 2‐monthly. Scored by matching patient final Life Priorities survey (within 3 months of death) to Family Perceptions; score 0 to 3 goals met	X Therapeutic Alliance. Human Connection Scale. Baseline, 14, 24 weeks. Total score 7 to 28; higher better
Clayton 2007	‐	X Questionnaire, Roter and Korsch; 25‐item scale (25 to 125); 24 hours and 3 weeks post‐consultation; higher score better	‐	X Actual versus preferred involvement in consultation Questionnaire 24 hours post‐consultation 5‐item rating scale (ranging from doctor leads decisions to patient leads decisions)	‐	‐
Epstein 2017	‐	‐	X Composite patient‐centred (patient‐doctor) communication Composite of 4 communication measures; coded consultation; first visit after coaching session (intervention) or study entry (control)	‐	X Decision regret (family) Modified decision regret scale; 8 items, 2 months post‐mortem	X Patient‐physician relationship Human Connection Scale, Health Care Communication Questionnaire, Perceived Efficacy in Patient‐Physician Interactions scale; 2 to 4 days after audio‐recorded consultation, then quarterly
Walczak 2017	‐	‐	‐	X Control preferences (doctor/patient +/‐ carer involvement in decisions) Self‐reported questionnaire; baseline and 1 month; Degner Control Preferences Scale; scores subtracted from baseline, differences dichotomised, preferences met/exceeded score > 0; unmet < 0	‐	X Patient Communication Self‐Efficacy Self‐reported questionnaire; baseline and 1 month; Perceived Efficacy in Patient/Physician Interactions Scale

X: outcome assessed; ‐: outcome not reported.

Satisfaction with the intervention was reported by both Clayton 2007 and Walczak 2017, but only for the intervention arm. This was therefore not extracted and reported in the review.