title: Older Oklahomans' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to advance directives.
abstract: This study sought to document older Oklahomans' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding the decision to write an advance directive. In Oklahoma, 67% of individuals older than age 18 do not have an advance directive; 76% say the reason is that they "have not gotten around to it." The findings from this study also indicate that some groups in Oklahoma, because of their age and race, need nurses to initiate this conversation. The discussion about advance directives should be part of the health promotion teaching provided by nurses and presented to the general public as a normal part of health care, with the focus on planning for a comfortable and peaceful death.
authors.affiliation: Sooner Palliative Care Institute, USA. mmatzo@ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matzo
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hijjazi
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Outwater
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016223:Advance Directives; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009825:Oklahoma