Efficacy of a Church-Based, Culturally Tailored Program to Promote Completion of Advance Directives Among Asian Americans

J Immigr Minor Health. 2017 Apr;19(2):381-391. doi: 10.1007/s10903-016-0365-7.

Abstract

Having an Advance Directive (AD) can help to guide medical decision-making. Asian Americans (AA) are less likely than White Americans to complete an AD. This pilot study investigated the feasibility and efficacy of a church-based intervention to increase knowledge and behavior change related to AD among Chinese and Vietnamese Americans. This study utilized a single group pre- and post-intervention design with 174 participants from 4 churches. Domain assessed: demographics; AD-related knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and intentions; AD completion; and conversations with a healthcare proxy. Data were analyzed using Chi square and multiple logistic regression techniques. We observed significant increases in participants' AD-related knowledge, intentions, and a gain in supportive beliefs and attitudes about AD, resulting in 71.8 % AD completion, and 25.0 % having had a proxy conversation. Providing culturally-tailored intervention and step-by-step guidance can help to achieve significant changes in AD related knowledge and behavior in AA church goers.

Keywords: Advance Directives; Advance health care planning; Asian Americans; Church-based; Culturally tailored.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Advance Directives / ethnology*
  • Aged
  • Asian*
  • China / ethnology
  • Christianity*
  • Cultural Competency
  • Emigrants and Immigrants*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Promotion / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Intention
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vietnam / ethnology