Predictors for the intentions of signing advance directives among dialysis patients: A quantitative study

Abstract

Background: Ineffective medical treatment could be avoided if patients had completed advance directives documents in advance.

Aims: This study aimed to explore the predictors for the intentions of signing advance directives among dialysis patients.

Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 209 dialysis patients by using structured questionnaires. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (Version 17) (SPSS/IBM Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) was used for data analysis.

Results: The predictors for the intention of signing the advance directives documents were having information on palliative care, the participants' knowing about the advanced directives documents, and their having more knowledge of advance care plans.

Conclusions: Health care workers may strengthen the patient's knowledge of an “advance care plan” by health education during the dialysis treatment and provide information on websites for the patients.

Impact statement: Hospital managers should train their staff to provide health teachings for an advance care plan.

Keywords:

• advance directives
• advance care plan
• dialysis patient
• patient autonomy

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the participating dialysis patients in this study for their time and cooperation in completing the surveys.

Impact statement

According to previous research, the health worker with a higher score on the knowledge related to the advance directives document increases their confidence in assisting patients in advance directives (Putman-Casdorph et al, 2009). Arranging continuous educational courses related to advance directives to health care workers are recommended.

Authorship statement

The authors confirm that all listed authors meet the authorship criteria and that all authors are in agreement with the content of the manuscript.

Contributions

Study Design: LF, LPH.

Data Collection and Analysis: LF, LPH, BCC.

Manuscript Writing: LF, SHF.

Conflict of interest

There are no conflicts of interest declared by the authors.

IRB approval

Pingtung Christian Hospital (IRB628A).

Additional information

Funding

This study obtained sources of funding from Pingtung Christian Hospital [grant number PS108029].