Publication Date
1-31-2017
Keywords
advance directive, primary care, advance care planning, elderly patients
Abstract
Advance directives (ADs) provide patients with the opportunity to indicate their preferences for medical care while they still maintain the capacity to express their wishes, thus retaining autonomy. ADs increase the likelihood that patients will receive the care they desire, as their family members and physicians will better understand the level of care desired. Despite this, the AD completion rate by elderly patients continues to be low, especially for patients not facing serious illnesses. Primary care physicians (PCPs) are uniquely positioned to engage patients in discussions about ADs before a health crisis arises yet often do not due to time constraints. Using assets associated with the PCP relationship to and longitudinal care for patients, findings reveal that PCPs who emphasize the importance of ADs and who normalize the discussion during office visits by asking questions to understand patients' health goals and holding short conversations over several visits can improve AD completion rates.
Recommended Citation
Myers JM, Duthie E Jr, Denson K, Denson S, Simpson D. What can a primary care physician discuss with older patients to improve advance directive completion rates? A Clin-IQ. J Patient Cent Res Rev. 2017;4:42-5. doi: 10.17294/2330-0698.1412
Included in
Family Medicine Commons, Health Services Administration Commons, Internal Medicine Commons, Medical Humanities Commons
Submitted
July 20th, 2016
Accepted
October 5th, 2016
