From text to interaction: The digital advance directive method for advance directives

Area of Science:

• Digital Health
• Bioethics
• Health Informatics

Background:

• Advance directives are crucial for specifying treatment preferences during decision-making incapacity.
• Existing tools offer information, data input, and storage but lack support for the core decision-making process.
• The creation of advance directives is often hindered by text-heavy and uncomfortable processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel method for generating digital advance directives (DiADs) that facilitates the decision-making process.
• To address the limitations of current tools by focusing on visual interaction and reflection.
• To improve accessibility and comfort in creating advance directives through digitalization.

Main Methods:

• Development of a visual-interactive, semi-quantitative method for DiAD generation.
• Integration of the DiAD method with a user-centered application.
• Illustration of the method's application through an exemplary user narrative (Mr. S.).

Main Results:

• The DiAD method shifts the focus from text-based input to visual representation and interaction.
• The approach aims to lower barriers and increase user comfort in creating advance directives.
• The accompanying app demonstrates a practical application of the DiAD method.

Conclusions:

• The DiAD method offers a new, digitally-enabled approach to advance care planning.
• Visual and interactive elements can enhance the decision-making process for advance directives.
• This method has the potential to increase the uptake and effectiveness of advance directives.