Social workers' and nurses' attitudes toward the health care proxy

Since health care professionals play a critical role in discussing advance directives with patients, their own attitudes toward these directives are important. This study examined the factors associated with health care professionals' attitudes toward the health care proxy, one form of an advance directive. Social workers (n= 115) and nurses (n= 98) had generally positive attitudes toward the health care proxy. Factors that predicted attitudes included profession and training in end of life. Health care professionals who had prior training in end-of-life planning had more positive attitudes toward the health care proxy than those who did not have training. Implications for education of health care professionals are addressed.