Improving Advance Directive Completion Rates: Utilizing Technology with a Virtual Platform
Abstract
Advance care planning and advance directives guide patients in remaining autonomous when
considering and planning for future healthcare. Improving the regularity of advance care
planning as a preventative measure and increasing the number of individuals who have
completed advance directives contributes to robust palliative care resources for patients. The
purpose of this quasi-experimental, pretest- posttest design project was to determine if the
evidence based advance directive intervention increased legal documentation and completion
rates among adults in the community. A webpage was built to guide patients through education
and decision making. Participants included adults over the age of 18 without a terminal illness
diagnosis and with or without current advance directives. Follow up surveys were collected at 3
months’ post intervention. The intervention was accessed by participants from home or other
convenient location. The intervention implemented and included materials from the PREPARE
for your Care program. Advance directive paperwork was downloadable at the conclusion of the
educational intervention. There was a significant difference in advance directive completion
status prior to intervention and post intervention. Increasing the prevalence and number of
individuals who have advance care planning conversations and documentation can improve care
provided to patients and client satisfaction. Nurse practitioners account for more than 600
million medical office visits per year in the United States. They are in a crucial position to
educate, advocate, and support the completion of advance directives. Low completion rates of
advance directives directly result in a higher level of Medicare spending, higher likelihood of in
hospital deaths, lower utilization of hospice care, and decreased quality of life.
Degree
D.N.P.
Thesis Department
Rights
Open Access (fully available)
Copyright retained by author