Abstract
This study examined patient acceptance of two different advance directives. Outpatients completed the two directives and a 12-item acceptability questionnaire for each, and then stated their directive preferences. Of 128 patients enrolled, 97 (76%) responded. Overall, 47% of the respondents were satisfied with the Let Me Decide directive and 53% with the Medical Directive (NS). Thirty-nine percent preferred the Let Me Decide directive, 37% preferred the Medical Directive, and 25% had no preference or were uncertain which they preferred. Although there was no difference in patient acceptance between the directives, 76% of the patients preferred one or the other. Therefore, different people like different directives, and a variety of directives should be available for patients to review before they complete one.
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Dr. Singer is supported by a National Health Research Scholar Award from the National Health Research and Development Program and a George Morris Piersol Teaching and Research Scholarship from the American College of Physicians. The Centre for Bioethics is supported by a health systems-linked research unit grant (#03006) from the Ontario Ministry of Health and by the William C. Harris Estate. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the supporting groups.
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Reinders, M., Singer, P.A. Which advance directive do patients prefer?. J Gen Intern Med 9, 49–51 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02599143
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02599143