Variables that predict interest in and the completion of living wills.
Observes that although chaplains and congregational pastors frequently advocate the completion of advance directives, including living wills, the research reports that only 5 to 15% of the general population have completed the instrument. Asks, Why have so few completed it? Reports on research which suggests that age is the only statistical predictor of whether a person possesses a completed living will when measured against social and personality variables, including levels of social support, fear of dying, religiousity, self-esteem, and trust in physicians. Concludes that it is likely that age is a proxy variable which represents changes in attitudes, beliefs, and thoughts which tend to occur as persons grow older.
VandeCreek
L
L
Ohio State University Hospitals, Columbus 43210, USA.
Frankowski
D
D
Johnson
M
M
D016223:Advance Directives / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001293:Attitude to Death; D006801:Humans; D016224:Living Wills / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010327:Pastoral Care; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States