Knowledge, Awareness, and Perception of Advanced Medical Directives Among Patients and Their Relatives in the...

Advance medical directives (AMDs) are legal documents that allow individuals to specify their medical care preferences in case they become incapacitated due to severe illness or injury. Understanding public awareness and attitudes toward AMDs is crucial for improving their implementation.

A cross-sectional study was conducted in the critical care unit of a tertiary care hospital, involving 50 patients and their relatives over the age of 18 after taking informed written consent. A specially designed questionnaire was used to assess their awareness, understanding, and attitudes toward AMDs.

The study revealed significant gaps in awareness and adoption of AMDs. Notably, none of the female participants had prepared the AMDs, and all individuals who had prepared one were over the age of 60. Additionally, none of the Hindu participants had AMDs, while three (8.1%) Sikh participants had prepared one. Awareness of legal formalities, such as the need for notarization or witnessing, was low. Moreover, only a minority of participants were aware that healthcare institutions could decline to comply with an AMD.

While some awareness of AMDs exists, the majority of the population remains unfamiliar with their guidelines and procedures. Targeted educational initiatives are essential to bridge this knowledge gap and promote informed decision-making regarding end-of-life care.