Social Workers' and Nurses' Attitudes Toward the Health Care Proxy

Since health care professionals play a critical role in discussing advance directives with patients, their own attitudes toward these directives are important. This study examined the factors associated with health care professionals' attitudes toward the health care proxy, one form of an advan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of social work in end-of-life & palliative care 2008-01, Vol.4 (1), p.57-74
Main Author: Heyman, Janna C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Advance Directives
advanced planning
Age Factors
Attitude of Health Personnel
Attitudes
Death
Demography
end-of-life planning
Female
health care proxy
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nurses
Nurses - psychology
Patients
Professional-Family Relations
Proxy
Social Work
Social Workers
Terminal Care - organization & administration
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Summary:Since health care professionals play a critical role in discussing advance directives with patients, their own attitudes toward these directives are important. This study examined the factors associated with health care professionals' attitudes toward the health care proxy, one form of an advance directive. Social workers (n = 115) and nurses (n = 98) had generally positive attitudes toward the health care proxy. Factors that predicted attitudes included profession and training in end of life. Health care professionals who had prior training in end-of-life planning had more positive attitudes toward the health care proxy than those who did not have training. Implications for education of health care professionals are addressed.
ISSN:1552-4256
1552-4264
DOI:10.1080/15524250802072211