Related Experiment Videos
Living will completion in older adults
K L Stelter1, B A Elliott, C A Bruno
1Duluth Family Practice Residency Program, MN.
Archives of Internal Medicine
|May 1, 1992
Summary
Many older adults want a living will (LW) but face barriers. Physician-initiated discussions and assistance are key to increasing LW completion rates among seniors.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Health Law
- Medical Ethics
Background:
- The Patient Self-Determination Act mandates providing living will (LW) information to patients.
- Despite legal availability, LW completion rates remain low.
- This study investigates reasons for low LW adoption.
Purpose of the Study:
- Characterize individuals with completed LWs.
- Identify barriers older adults face in completing LWs.
- Understand older adults' preferences for LW initiation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the health belief model to design a questionnaire.
- Surveyed 214 older adults (aged 65-90) at nutrition sites.
- Employed multiple regression and discriminant analysis for statistical determination.
Main Results:
- Highly educated individuals and those not finding the LW form too long were more likely to have completed an LW.
- Barriers for LW completion included family issues and the need for assistance.
- 61% of older adults desired physician-initiated LW discussions.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare providers should initiate LW discussions.
- Community programs offering information and assistance are recommended.
- Addressing family concerns and providing form completion support is crucial.