Research in nursing & health
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Prognostic communication is a primary component of goals of care conversations in palliative care (PC) practice. Little is known about these conversations in the natural setting. ⋯ We identified five processes by which clinicians link prognoses, values, and goals of care: (1) signposting the crossroads; (2) closing off a goal; (3) clarifying current path; (4) linking paths and patients' values; and (5) choosing among paths. The findings add to our understanding of PC consultation by describing how prognoses link with patients' values and choices in goals of care conversations.