Abstract

BARRIO CANTALEJO, Inés Mª  and  RIMARED G03/100 et al. Elders´perspective about Advance Directives. Index Enferm [online]. 2006, vol.15, n.52-53, pp.35-39. ISSN 1699-5988.

Background: The introduction of advance directives (AD) require to examine the perspective their potential users have about. Any public policy about the implementation of ADs adressed to elders will fall if their perspective is unknown. Objective: To examine the elders' perspective about advance directives.  Methods: Qualitative study. 40 elders, users of 3 Primary Health Care Center, and of 1 Nursing Home from Madrid. 5 focus groups were organized in 2004 April.  Participants: 14 providers recruited 2-3 participants each. Age and emplacement (home or institution) were the variables considered as the most important for the discurse differences about ADs. They were used as segmentation criteria, looking for heterogeneity between groups, and homogeneity and heterogeneity intra groups. The discussion of each group last until no new concepts arose. Results: 4 assumptions source from groups: 1) Elder people prefer advanced care planning to only signed ADs. 2) Their opinion about ADs is linked to other events about the end of life. 3) They give a relevant role to their families. 4) They desire to control their lifes and decisions, but "without papers". Conclusion: The implementation of ADs through educational public policies  in elder population only will sucess if elders' perspective is considered.