Communicating end-of-life preferences.
The purpose of this survey was to explore how adults communicate their end-of-life preferences. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 119 community-dwelling adults who had previously engaged in conversations about their end-of-life preferences. Factors that made it easier to initiate the discussion included having personal experience with illness or death (24.4%), being straightforward (24.4%), or having someone else facilitate the discussion (11.8%). Most described vague end-of-life preferences such as not wanting any machines (41.2%) or heroics (34.5%). Although 22.7% reported using a living will to make their preferences clear, only 5.9% mentioned repeating or reinforcing their preferences. In all, 21% had discussed their end-of-life preferences with their physicians. These findings show discussions about end-of-life preferences frequently lack the clarity and detail needed by significant others and health care providers to honor the preferences. Routine dialogue with health care providers and significant others about end-of-life preferences might provide greater clarity and comfort.
McDonald
Deborah Dillon
DD
University of Connecticut, School of Nursing, USA.
Deloge
Jo-Ann
JA
Joslin
Nicole
N
Petow
Wendy A
WA
Severson
Judith S
JS
Votino
Roberta
R
Shea
Michael D
MD
Drenga
Jessica M L
JM
Brennan
Mary T
MT
Moran
Andrea B
AB
Del Signore
Enrico
E
D000328:Adult; D032722:Advance Care Planning; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003142:Communication; D003237:Connecticut; D004522:Educational Status; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology*