[Advance directives in hospital practice: A matter of concern for every healthcare professional and consumer]

T de Courson; C Sfeir; G de Guillebon; H Sanson; A Yannoutsos; P Priollet

doi:10.1016/j.revmed.2018.04.019

[Advance directives in hospital practice: A matter of concern for every healthcare professional and consumer]

Rev Med Interne. 2019 Mar;40(3):145-150. doi: 10.1016/j.revmed.2018.04.019. Epub 2018 May 24.

[Article in French]

Authors

T de Courson¹, C Sfeir¹, G de Guillebon¹, H Sanson², A Yannoutsos², P Priollet³

Affiliations

¹ Service de médecine interne, groupe hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph, 185, rue Raymond Losserand, 75014 Paris, France.
² Service de médecine vasculaire, groupe hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph, 185, rue Raymond Losserand, 75014 Paris, France.
³ Service de médecine interne, groupe hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph, 185, rue Raymond Losserand, 75014 Paris, France; Service de médecine vasculaire, groupe hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph, 185, rue Raymond Losserand, 75014 Paris, France. Electronic address: ppriollet@hpsj.fr.

PMID: 29804875
DOI: 10.1016/j.revmed.2018.04.019

Abstract

Introduction: In France, Leonetti and Claeys-Leonetti laws relating to patients' rights and end-of-life practice have introduced the advance healthcare directives (ADs). Although family doctor's role is important in initiating discussions regarding AD, hospital healthcare professionals should also be concerned by the health care planning laws.

Methods: A descriptive, quantitative and qualitative study was conducted in Paris Saint-Joseph hospital to evaluate the knowledge of nursing personnel regarding ADs. Among healthcare professionals present on 02/06/2016 and agreeing to participate, 50 non-medical caregivers and 50 doctors were randomly selected and took part in this survey. Three trainee lawyers conducted interviews, recorded and anonymized them. The Nvivo software analyzed the qualitative part of the results.

Results: Only 10% of healthcare professionals knew these legal and ethical issues in health care. Most caregivers were not in favor of informing all patients admitted to a hospital (hospitalized patients or patients received consultations). For 44%, only hospitalized end-of-life patients should be informed about ADs. For 76% of the people questioned, family doctor has a unique position to guide the patient on the preparation and registration of living wills. In hospital stay, the nurse was proposed by 52% of the staff as the preferred caregiver for AD communication, as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team approach. Finally, the clear majority of caregivers (85%), called for discussions and documentation about ADs, and end-of-life training.

Conclusion: Advance directives remain poorly known in the hospital, 12 years after the first Leonetti law. The attitude of professionals about ADs is not homogenous but interest for the subject is obvious in the vast majority of caregivers. The results of this survey highlighted that discussions and documentation about ADs as well as training on end-of-life patient care are essential.

Keywords: Advance directives; Directives anticipées; Ethics; Fin de vie; Healthcare professionals; Life-threatening condition; Professionnels de santé; Éthique.

MeSH terms

Adult
Advance Directives* / ethics
Advance Directives* / psychology
Advance Directives* / statistics & numerical data
Aged
Attitude
Attitude of Health Personnel*
Female
France / epidemiology
Health Personnel / ethics
Health Personnel / psychology
Health Personnel / statistics & numerical data
Hospitalization* / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Patient Rights / ethics
Patients* / psychology
Physician's Role / psychology
Professional Practice* / ethics
Professional Practice* / standards
Professional Practice* / statistics & numerical data
Young Adult