THE EFFECT OF AN EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION ON ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS' PARTICIPATION IN ADVANCE DIRECTIVE HEALTH CARE PLANNING.
Contributors: University of Minnesota.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 266
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.; Gerontology.; Education, Health.
Description: Advance directives (ADs) have been advocated as a viable means of extending individuals' participation in future health care decisions. The purpose of the study was to provide empirical evidence about the comparative efficacy of a multi-modal educational intervention on elderly individuals' knowledge of and participation in AD health care planning. Advance directive health care planning was defined as including four key elements: (1) self-awareness of preferred health care treatments under specific situations; (2) discussion of treatment preferences with a family member; (3) discussion of treatment preferences with a health care professional (HCP); and (4) completion of a formal AD, a living will (LW) or durable power of attorney for health care (DPAHC). The Health Belief Model provided the theoretical framework.

This study utilized a two group, experimental design. Subjects were community dwelling elderly (N = 57) who had been hospitalized within the preceding two years. Data were collected through person-to-person interviews at three time periods: initial, post-treatment, and four to six week follow-up interviews. The instrument was developed specifically for the study. The independent variable was a multi-modal (videotape, written materials, verbal presentation, and interactive dialogue) educational intervention provided through one-to-one instruction.

Subjects in the treatment group (n = 28) were older ($\overlinex□ □$age = 75.6 years) than subjects in the control group (n = 29, $\overlinex□ □$age = 72.1 years) (p =.04). Other sociodemographic characteristics were similar across groups. The majority of subjects were female (52%), married (65%), well-educated (74% $\ge$ HS), and rated their health as good (60%).

At the time of the follow-up interview, subjects in the treatment group identified more key concepts in definitions of ADs and life-sustaining medical treatments, had more treatment preferences discussions (n = 24), and completed more DPAHC documents (n = 11) than subjects in the control group. These differences were statistically significant. There was not a statistically significant difference between groups in the number of discussions of treatment preferences with HCPs or in the number of LWs completed.

Nurses maintain a pivotal role in the education of clients. Use of a multi-modal educational intervention, incorporating educational strategies for the older learner, can successfully promote participation in the complex process of AD health care planning.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-01, Section: B, page: 0175.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, 1994.

School code: 0130.