[Knowledge and misconceptions on advance directives-results of a citizen survey]

Advance directives (ADs) such as living wills or healthcare powers of attorney are important tools to anticipate medical treatment decisions when decision-making capacity is lost in the future. Although a rising number of citizens in Germany are creating such documents, little is known about their knowledge of the purpose, types, and use of ADs. After more than 10 years since legislation on ADs came into force, this study intends to measure the objective knowledge of citizens and detect deficits in knowledge.

We conducted a cross-sectional quantitative survey of citizens aged 18+ in the city and county of Wuerzburg. The questionnaire included, among other things, possession, experience, and knowledge of ADs. Sampling was conducted via advertising and local networking.

Of the 282 participants who took part in the survey (M_age = 50 years, 2/3 female), 43.4% reported having created a minimum of one document. In the knowledge test, an average of 22/34 points was achieved. While questions about the specific application of ADs based on a case study were often answered correctly, we found deficits about the single document types. The results in the knowledge test and the variables on the subjective level of knowledge correlate positively.

The relatively high rate of ADs in this sample indicates their rapid dissemination during the past few years in Germany. Overall, the level of knowledge ADs appears to be low, revealing misconceptions about the creator's and involved people's rights and obligations. The measured knowledge level contradicts with the frequently expressed desire of citizens to preserve their autonomy by creating ADs for themselves.