[Knowledge and attitudes of health care professionals in advance healthcare directives].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The advanced healthcare directive is a new style of health care relationship, based on the respect of the patientś autonomous decisions: as well as a valuable tool that enables a proper management of the decisions made at the end of life. The objective of this study was to explore the knowledge and attitudes of the health care professionals regarding the advance directives, as well as the resources for advanced care planning in a municipality of Madrid during 2016-2017.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on a population of Health care professionals of Primary and Specialised Care. The knowledge and attitudes questionnaire about the advance directives was used. Sociodemographic and knowledge variables related to resources for the advanced care planning. Statistical-descriptive analysis was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 431 professionals were included, with a mean age of 44.55 years (SD: 11.1). As regards knowledge about advance directives, the mean score was 5.08 (SD 2.4), with statistically significant differences being found between professional groups. A small percentage (4.6%) of the professionals had their document of Advance directives ready, and 42% of professionals did not know if they were regulated by the Community of Madrid. Less than half (41.5%) of the professionals knew the palliative resources of their institution.

CONCLUSIONS

The health care professional's knowledge about advance directives, as well as the resources for the advanced care planning, show deficiencies at training and information level. Almost half of the professionals did not know if these are regulated in the Community of Madrid. They also believe that it would be useful to plan, and very useful to have the Advance directives document ready.