Coaching in Palliative Surgical Oncology

The care coach will focus on improving readiness and preparedness for components that will be discussed during serious illness conversations (SICs) - (disease understanding/prognosis, fear/worry, goals of care, treatment expectations, informational preferences, trade-offs, caregiver involvement). The coach will also equip patients with basic tools for treatment decision-making and advanced care planning (ACP). The session will be conducted in-person over 30-to-45 minutes. All coaching content is adapted from the serious illness care program developed by Ariadne Labs. This includes an adapted version of the advanced cancer and surgery question prompt list, elements of the serious illness conversations and the "What Matters to Me" serious illness care program booklet. The SICs are conducted at least 12 hours prior to palliative intervention and findings conveyed to surgical team. Coaching sessions would be focused on decision-making and future planning aspects of palliative care.