Advance directives in internal medicine outpatient residents' clinics

This study assessed the frequency of obtaining advance directives from patients of internal medicine residents in two Baltimore teaching programs. A survey was conducted of the medical records of 130 patients in the medical clinics from these programs. Independent variables included age, sex, and race. Dependent variables included documentation of terminal illnesses, resuscitation or code status, and discussion regarding resuscitation status. Only 25 of 130 patients (19%) had a resuscitation status recorded, 24 were documented as full resuscitation and 1 as do not resuscitate. Of subjects older than 65 years, 23% had a resuscitation status. Although 4 of 37 subjects older than 65 years had a terminal illness, none had advance directives.