The HIV-specific advance directive.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether persons living with HIV find a disease-specific advance directive more acceptable than a generic directive.


METHODS
Randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
HIV consumer organization and hospital-based HIV clinic.


METHODS
Volunteer sample of persons with HIV.


METHODS
The disease-specific HIV Living Will, the generic Centre for Bioethics Living Will, or both.


RESULTS
Of 101 participants who received both advance directives, 78 (77.2%) preferred the disease-specific HIV Living Will and 23 (22.8%) preferred the generic Centre for Bioethics Living Will (p < .001). Most participants who preferred the HIV Living Will did so because it was more specific or relevant to their situation.


CONCLUSIONS
Persons living with HIV prefer a disease-specific to a generic advance directive. They should be offered a disease-specific advance directive. Our findings should also encourage investigators to develop and evaluate disease-specific advance directives in other clinical settings.
Singer
P A
PA
University of Toronto Joint Centre for Bioethics, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada.
Thiel
E C
EC
Salit
I
I
Flanagan
W
W
Naylor
C D
CD
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D016224:Living Wills; D008297:Male