title: Advance directives and the elderly: a study of intervention strategies to increase use.
abstract: This study tested the efficacy of educational interventions to increase the use of advance directives among the elderly. Three types of educational materials, various community-dwelling populations of older people (n = 293), and offers of free legal assistance were examined. Interventions increased use slightly, not dramatically, especially with the group receiving a moderate level of materials plus an invitation to a meeting. Knowledge and use were also associated with race and education levels. The most common reason given for nonuse was deferring to others and putting it off.
authors.affiliation: Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, Lexington 40506.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: High
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013664:Teaching Materials