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  • Title: Which factors have the greatest influence on bereaved families' willingness to execute advance directives in Taiwan?
    Author: Yang CL, Chiu TY, Hsiung YF, Hu WY.
    Journal: Cancer Nurs; 2011; 34(2):98-106. PubMed ID: 20885303.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: Preferences for end-of-life care and attitudes toward executing advance directives (ADs) vary depending on ethical and cultural influences. In traditional Asian family-centered decision making, the family makes important medical decisions. Few studies have examined willingness of Taiwanese to execute ADs. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate factors associated with willingness of bereaved families of cancer patients in Taiwan to execute ADs. METHODS: Participants were 280 individual family members of deceased cancer patients randomly selected from a cancer registry of an urban medical center in Taiwan. They completed self-reported questionnaires with information about their knowledge of and attitudes toward ADs. RESULTS: Participants showed high willingness (86.4%) to complete ADs. Logistic regression analysis revealed 4 important factors associated with their willingness: (1) participants were primary caregivers (odds ratio [OR], 2.64), (2) willingness to reelect to disclose terminal illness (OR, 4.39), (3) knowledge of the Hospice-Palliative Care Act (HPCA) (OR, 1.27), and (4) negative perceptions of the HPCA (ie, "cons") (OR, 1.07). Advanced analysis revealed that participants with more knowledge of the HPCA had fewer negative perceptions (β = .60; P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Having more knowledge of hospice/palliative care and fewer negative perceptions of HPCA increases willingness to execute ADs for family members or self. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Active promotion of hospice/palliative care and public education about the HPCA provided by medical professionals would contribute to awareness of end-of-life care and knowledge of HPCA, thereby encouraging willingness to complete ADs.
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