Reach and impact of a mass media event among vulnerable patients: the Terri Schiavo story.
BACKGROUND
It is unknown whether health-related media stories reach diverse older adults and influence advance care planning (ACP).


OBJECTIVE
To determine exposure to media coverage of Terri Schiavo (TS) and its impact on ACP.


METHODS
Descriptive study of 117 English/Spanish-speakers, aged >or=50 years (mean 61 years) from a county hospital, interviewed six months after enrollment into an advance directive study.


METHODS
We assessed whether participants had heard of TS and subject characteristics associated with exposure. We also asked whether, because of TS, subjects engaged in ACP.


RESULTS
Ninety-two percent reported hearing of TS. Participants with adequate literacy were more likely than those with limited literacy to report hearing of TS (100% vs. 79%, P < .001), as were participants with >or= a high school vs. < high school education (97% vs. 82%, P = .004), and English vs. Spanish-speakers (96% vs. 85%, P = .04). Because of TS, many reported clarifying their own goals of care (61%), talking to their family/friends about ACP (66%), and wanting to complete an advance directive (37%).


CONCLUSIONS
Most diverse older adults had heard of TS and reported that her story activated them to engage in ACP. Media stories may provide a powerful opportunity to engage patients in ACP and develop public health campaigns.
Sudore
Rebecca L
RL
Division of Geriatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA. rsucsf@yahoo.com
Landefeld
C Seth
CS
Pantilat
Steven Z
SZ
Noyes
Kathryn M
KM
Schillinger
Dean
D
D016223:Advance Directives; D001741:Black or African American; D000368:Aged; D001926:Brain Death; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006766:Hospitals, County; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008402:Mass Media; D008875:Middle Aged; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D044465:White People