What should be explored when clarifying goals of care with a patient?

• A. Assess goals, values, and preferences.
• B. Only focus on symptom control.
• C. Give medical statistics.
• D. Limit discussion to care planning.

Answer: (A)

Clarifying goals of care with a patient centers on understanding the patient’s goals, values, and preferences so that the care plan reflects what matters most to them. This approach supports shared decision-making, respects autonomy, and guides decisions about treatments, balancing benefits and burdens in light of prognosis and desired quality of life. It’s the best choice because it captures both what the patient wants and why, enabling clinicians to tailor interventions to those priorities and to revisit the plan as the illness or situation changes. Focusing only on symptom control misses the broader purpose of care, since someone may value comfort but also have specific priorities beyond symptom relief. Providing medical statistics can inform understanding but doesn’t substitute for exploring individual goals and values. Limiting discussion to care planning without delving into the patient’s personal goals and wishes fails to align care with what truly matters to the patient.