title: The preparedness of Hong Kong medical students towards advance directives and end-of-life issues.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the preparedness of medical students towards advance directives and related end-of-life issues, and to examine background factors such as knowledge, attitudes, and experience concerning advance directives and related end-of-life issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2007, 448 medical students in years 3 to 5 were surveyed at the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. Their knowledge, attitudes, and experiences of advance directives and related end-of-life issues, and their self-perceived preparedness to discuss these matters with patients were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 220 (49%) of the eligible students responded, of whom 79% supported the use of advance directives. Only 65 (30%) students were certain of what advance directives meant and 198 (90%) students felt that their knowledge of advance directives was inadequate. Also, 197 (90%) students felt unprepared about advance directives and end-of-life issues. Factors associated with positive attitude towards advance directives included religion and knowledge. No factors were found to be associated with self-perceived preparedness towards advance directives or end-of-life issues.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most of the medical students surveyed demonstrated a positive attitude towards advance directives and recognised the importance of advance directives. However, they felt that they were unprepared and lacking in knowledge and experience of advance directives and end-of-life issues. Wider range and more depth of education is needed to better equip medical students for future practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China. clarasiumw@gmail.com
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Siu
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: T Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Kwok
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Ting
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Shua