Emergency Healthcare Providers’ Knowledge about and Attitudes toward Advance Directives: A Cross-Sectional Study between Nurses and Emergency Medical Technicians at an Emergency Department

Sun Woo Hong, Shinmi Kim, Yu Jin Yun, Hyun Sook Jung, JaeLan Shim and JinShil Kim
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Sun Woo Hong: Department of Emergency Medical Services, Daejeon University, Daejeon 34520, Korea
Shinmi Kim: College of Nursing, Changwon University, Gyeongnam 51140, Korea
Yu Jin Yun: Jecheon Fire Station, Jecheon 27143, Korea
Hyun Sook Jung: Emergency Medical Center, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan 49241, Korea
JaeLan Shim: Department of Nursing, College of Medicine, Dongguk University, Seoul 38066, Korea
JinShil Kim: College of Nursing, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Korea

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: This study aimed to explore and compare knowledge levels about advance directives (ADs) and life-sustaining treatment (LST) plans in end-of-life patients between emergency nurses and emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Using a cross-sectional study design and convenience sampling, 96 nurses and 68 EMTs were recruited from 12 emergency medical centers. A survey on knowledge about and attitudes toward ADs was performed using both online and offline methods between November and December 2019. Emergency healthcare providers were conceptually knowledgeable regarding ADs and LST, although approximately half or fewer had knowledge about ADs (such as the legal process for preparation, family or healthcare providers’ role, and the healthcare proxy). The knowledge levels of nurses and EMTs were moderate. Nurses had significantly greater knowledge relative to EMTs about ADs and LST. Positive attitudes of emergency healthcare providers were also moderately low, with nurses having less positive views than EMTs. Significant differences regarding ADs were found, with younger emergency healthcare providers having fewer career years, no personal end-of-life experiences, and less need for ADs having less knowledge. Emergency healthcare providers’ knowledge about and attitudes toward ADs were moderately low, with EMTs demonstrating a greater knowledge deficit and nurses exhibiting lower positive attitudes. Younger and novice providers had lower knowledge, but younger providers had more positive attitudes, implying that professional education and training should begin early in their careers to enhance their confidence for emergency delivery of advanced care planning.

Keywords: emergency nurses; emergency medical technicians; advance directive; knowledge; attitudes (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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