Qualitative multiple-case study explores autonomy perceptions in advance care planning for advanced heart failure, indicating social dynamics influence decision-making.
Key Points
Advance care planning is often perceived as separate from treatment decisions in advanced heart failure, yet vital for autonomy.
The individualistic notion of autonomy clashes with the lived experience of patients in advanced heart failure situations.
Interpersonal and social power dynamics significantly shape how autonomy is expressed during advance care planning.
Findings urge future research to adopt a relational framework, recognizing how institutional and social factors influence autonomy.