This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gockel, J. Articles by Johnson, M. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Advance Directives: A Social Work Initiative to Increase Participation

St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Nancy Morrow-Howell

St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Edith Thompson

St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Mark Pousson

St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Marva Johnson

St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center

This article compared data on 200 patients at a large urban hospital on a number of demographic variables to distinguish clients who initiated an advance directive from those who declined. To better understand why some respondents refused, a telephone survey was conducted. As a result of the survey, an educational intervention was initiated in the walk-in clinic area. A social work student provided informatton and assisted with the completion of the forms. An ambulatory care setting was chosen assuming that, when patients are less ill, they may be better able to absorb the information on advance directives. As a result of the educational intervention, 66% of the respondents approached initiated an advance directive. Those that declined were called 2 weeks later, and 80% gave responses indicating they were making an informed decision. The findings clearly demonstrate that an educational intervention increases the percentage of individuals who initiate an advance directive.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Black Advance directive communication: nurses' and social workers' perceptions of roles. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, May 1, 2006; 23(3): 175 - 184. [Abstract] [PDF]