title: Factors associated with favorable attitudes toward end-of-life planning.
abstract: Planning for end-of-life (EOL) care can result in better patient outcomes and lowered health care costs. We hypothesized that knowledge and experiences with EOL care would influence patients' EOL planning (i.e., health care decisions, hospice use). Using an observational, cross-sectional design, we recruited a community sample of 331 South Floridians aged 18 to 84 (M = 44 years, SD = 14.95) to complete a questionnaire examining knowledge and opinions on EOL issues. Regression analyses showed that prior knowledge of living wills and hospice services were associated with more favorable attitudes toward hospice care, preference for limited medical interventions at EOL, and more comfort in communicating about death and dying. Patient education on EOL care may increase hospice use, enhance EOL planning, and improve patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruff
authors.forename: Robin J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: M Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: G Stephen
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Bowen
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gerber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D032722:Advance Care Planning; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult