The development of decision-making support tools for elderly patients and their families in Japan: for better end-of-life care in the longevity society

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Some medical associations in Japan have issued end-of-life care guidelines including the Japan Geriatrics Society and the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy. We have created two notebook-type tools for elderly patients and their families to support their decision-making process when they need to consider AHN (artificial hydration and nutrition) or dialysis therapy. The tools include information related to AHN or dialysis therapy as well as those related to withholding and withdrawal of AHN or dialysis therapy. The tools guide patients and their families to write down the patients values and beliefs together with their narrative information so that they make a decision based on the narrative. We aim to promote shared decision-making among patients and their families and physicians and care providers.