Influence of Advance Directives' Self-efficacy of Community-dwelling Older Adults on the Completion of Advance Directives: Mediating the Effect of Intention for Advance Directives: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors related to the completion of advance directives by community-dwelling older adults.Methods: This descriptive correlational study used a cross-sectional survey of 236 older adults recruited from a welfare center in Jungnang gu Seoul, South Korea. Data collection was done from June 1 to August 20, 2021. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure advance directives' self-efficacy and intentions and the completion of advance directives. The data were analyzed with the SPSS 23.0 and SPSS Process Macro program.Results: Advance directives' self-efficacy indirectly had a significant positive effect on the completion of advance directives and fully mediated advance directives' intentions, and its explanatory power was confirmed to be 21%.Conclusion: The result of this study suggests developing education programs to improve the completion of advance directives in community-dwelling older adults. Further research is needed with more elderly populations in extended areas.