title: The lack of advance directives among hospice patients.
abstract: This study reported a lower than expected prevalence of advance directives among hospice patients. The presence of an advance directive was related to certain sociodemographic factors, diagnosis, and previous physician-patient advance directive discussions. Barriers that precluded the completion of an advance directive primarily involved a lack of physician-patient advance directive discussions or a lack of patient understanding. This study confirmed the importance of physician-patient discussion toward completion of an advance directive. Improving physician-patient communication about this issue should increase the prevalence of advance directive completion among hospice patients.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schonwetter
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Robinson
mesh_terms: D032722:Advance Care Planning; D016223:Advance Directives / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006699:Home Care Services; D006738:Hospices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors