End-of-Life Planning: Normalizing the Process

ABSTRACT

End-of-life (EOL) planning occurs across the United States at a frequency of below 50%, suggesting a new approach to encourage action is in order, especially as COVID-19 and other potentially lethal conditions emerge. Utilizing data from a multi-year survey of 2,614 adults in Nebraska, this study examined demographic factors related to completion of EOL planning documents, and identified people with whom EOL wishes could, and had been discussed. Logistic regression estimates indicated more reliance on non-health care providers for EOL discussions. This shift with whom people would discuss EOL wishes may afford others an opportunity to encourage EOL discussions.

KEYWORDS:

• Advance directives
• end-of-life planning
• decision-making

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Jennifer Eurek, Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care, the Bureau of Sociological Research at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Heather Ford and Dr. Elizabeth Harlow. The authors are grateful to Dr. Miller and the anonymous reviewers for their invaluable suggestions throughout the review process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).