Important Factors Influencing Willingness to Participate in Advance Care Planning among Outpatients: A Pilot Study in Central Taiwan

Wan-Ting Tsai, Chun-Min Chen, Ming-Cheng Chung, Pei-Yu Tsai, Yen-Tzu Liu, Feng-Cheng Tang and Ying-Li Lin
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Wan-Ting Tsai: Department of Family Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
Chun-Min Chen: Big Data Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
Ming-Cheng Chung: Department of Family Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
Pei-Yu Tsai: Department of Family Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
Yen-Tzu Liu: Department of Family Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
Feng-Cheng Tang: Department of Occupational Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan
Ying-Li Lin: Department of Family Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 9, 1-9

Abstract: Advance care planning (ACP) and advance directives (ADs) ensure patient autonomy in end-of life care. The number of ADs made and followed in Taiwan is still lacking. This study aimed to determine the factors that influence the willingness to participate in ACP among outpatients in Taiwan. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional survey based on convenient sampling methods. The questionnaire included questions about participants’ basic sociodemographic information, knowledge of ACP, and awareness of ACP. A total of 198 adults who were outpatients of a family medicine clinic in an affiliated hospital in Taiwan were recruited. The associations between each variable were evaluated using the χ 2 test. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using the logistic regression method to examine the influence of each variable on willingness to participate in ACP. Being happy and being a healthcare professional were positively correlated with ACP participation. A lack of ACP knowledge (OR = 0.30 in model A and OR = 0.42 in model C), valuing “Reducing families’ end-of-life decision-making burden” (OR = 2.53 in model B and OR = 2.65 in model C), and a “Belief in a good death” (OR = 4.02 in model B and OR = 4.10 in Model C) were the main factors affecting subjects’ willingness to participate in ACP. Knowing which factors influence willingness to participate in ACP helps in the promotion of ACP. Continuously educating both the general public and healthcare professionals strengthens knowledge about the right to autonomy, about its associated laws, and about the ACP process, and thus, programs should be created to provide this education. Additionally, taking into account the differences between cultures can be helpful.

Keywords: advance care planning; advance directives; patient autonomy; end-of-life care (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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