Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of an educational program on medical students’ conversations with patients about advance directives

A randomized trial

  • Brief Reports
  • Published:
Journal of General Internal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Advance directives, such as the durable power of attorney for health care (DPAHC), help patients and physicians make end-of-life health care decisions. Medical education should prepare student physicians to be knowledgeable about and comfortable with discussing advance directives. The authors developed an educational module for the third-year medical school curriculum and conducted a randomized trial to evaluate in students its effect on various outcome measures regarding the DPAHC. Over a six-week period, students who received written material about the DPAHC and a two-hour seminar significantly increased knowledge about and reported increased skill, comfort, and experience with the DPAHC.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Jacobson JA, Tolle SW, Stocking C, Siegler M. Internal medicine residents’ preferences regarding medical ethics education. Acad Med. 1989;64:760–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Brunetti IX, Carperos SD, Westlund RE. Physicians’ attitudes towards living wills and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. J Gen Intern Med. 1991;6:323–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Bedell SE, Delbanco TL. Choices about cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the hospital. N Engl J Med. 1984;310:1089–93.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Blackhall LJ, Cobb J, Moskowitz MA. Discussions regarding aggressive care with critically ill patients. J Gen Intern Med. 1989;4:399–402.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Emanuel IX, Barry MJ, Stoeckle JD Ettelson LM, Emanuel EJ. Advance directives for medical care-a case for greater use. N Engl J Med. 1991;324:889–95.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Finucane TE, Shumway JM, Powers RL, D’Alessandri RM. Planning with elderly outpatients for contingencies of severe illness. J Gen Intern Med. 1988;3:322–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health. 110 S. Ct. 2841 (1990).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 200 UCIA Medical Plaza, Suite 420, 90024-1685, Los Angeles, CA

    Jerome M. Creenberg MD

Authors
  1. Jerome M. Creenberg MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bruce H. Dobun MD, MPH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. David W. Shapiro MD, JD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lawrence S. Linn PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Neil S. Wenger MD, MPH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Received from the Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California.

Supported by the UCLA Committee for Humanistic Care, funded by the Borun Foundation.

Dr. Linn is deceased.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Creenberg, J.M., Dobun, B.H., Shapiro, D.W. et al. Effect of an educational program on medical students’ conversations with patients about advance directives. J Gen Intern Med 8, 683–685 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02598288

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02598288

Key words

Search

Navigation