Young Adults' Perspectives on Advance Care Planning

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Sociology

Background:

• Advance care planning (ACP) is essential for end-of-life care.
• Young adults' engagement in ACP is understudied.
• Understanding young adults' perspectives on ACP is vital for future healthcare planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess young adults' knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors concerning advance care planning (ACP).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional online survey was administered to 310 young adults at a metropolitan university.
• Data were collected between September and November 2016.
• Descriptive statistics and correlation tests were employed to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• Young adults demonstrated limited familiarity and knowledge of ACP.
• Familiarity with ACP terminology correlated with older age, female gender, graduate enrollment, and full-time employment.
• While most held positive attitudes toward ACP, only one-third had discussed end-of-life wishes with loved ones.

Conclusions:

• There is a significant need to educate and involve young adults in ACP and end-of-life care discussions.
• Young adults can play a key role in initiating and facilitating ACP conversations for older family members.
• Empowering young adults in ACP is critical given their potential caregiving roles.