Table 2.

Barriers scoring differences according to the report on formal training regarding communication with patients and families about goals of care (N = 66)

BARRIERS	Formal training regarding communication with patients and families about goals of care
	No (n = 28) Med [1st Q; 3rd Q]	Yes (n = 38) Med [1st Q; 3rd Q]	Mann–Whitney’s p-value
A) Barriers to Discuss ACP and goals of care
Barriers Related to the Patient/Family
Patient does not have an advance directive	6 [5; 6.5]	6 [6; 7]	0.014*
B) Barriers to Discontinuation of Cancer Therapies
External barriers
Lack of decision aids for discontinuing cancer-directed therapy	5 [3; 6]	6 [5; 6]	0.045*
Lack of guidelines for discontinuing cancer-directed therapy	4 [2; 6]	6 [5; 6]	< 0.001*
C) Timing of Palliative Care Referral
Lack of access to palliative care services within the hospital	5 [3.5; 7]	6.5 [5; 7]	0.024*
D) Willingness to Participate in Communication and Decision-Making About Goals of Care
Rate your willingness to initiate the discussion (bring up the subject) about goals of care with patients such as these and their families	6 [6; 7]	7 [6; 7]	0.006*
Rate your willingness to lead the discussion with patients such as these and their families. This includes exchanging information (disclosing diagnosis, prognosis, and eliciting values) and being a decision coach (clarifying values, assisting with weighing options for care, etc.)	6 [6; 7]	7 [6; 7]	0.013*

^* p < 0.05, Med Median, Q Quartile