Which advance directive do patients prefer?

Abstract

This study examined patient acceptance of two different advance directives. Outpatients completed the two directives and a 12-item acceptability questionnaire for each, and then stated their directive preferences. Of 128 patients enrolled, 97 (76%) responded. Overall, 47% of the respondents were satisfied with the Let Me Decide directive and 53% with the Medical Directive (NS). Thirty-nine percent preferred the Let Me Decide directive, 37% preferred the Medical Directive, and 25% had no preference or were uncertain which they preferred. Although there was no difference in patient acceptance between the directives, 76% of the patients preferred one or the other. Therefore, different people like different directives, and a variety of directives should be available for patients to review before they complete one.