An Exploratory Study: How do licensed social workers approach complex end-of-life conversations with patients, families and physicians

This paper adds to the growing body of literature in social work research by exploring how social workers' facilitate complex end-of-life conversations with patients, families and physicians. Limited research, and practice efforts have focused on end-of-life care and social work involvement. Importance and perceptions of healthcare proxy/advanced directives use have been previously examined to understand social workers' expanding role in end-of-life planning. Findings from this study have illustrated the approaches social workers use within complex end-of-life conversations which span across patients and their families, their physicians and the greater population. Processes that were found, although variable, were cohesive within areas of conversation involvement, beginning approach, intentionality within context and developed relationship outcomes.