Factors related to readiness for advance care planning in the general population: a cross sectional study in Iran

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Advanced Care Planning (ACP), as a process for expressing and recording patients' preferences about end-of-life care, has received increasing attention in recent years. However, implementing ACP has been challenging in Iran. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate factors related to readiness for ACP (RACP) in the general population of Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on the general population of Iran in 2022. The data was collected using demographic information questionnaire and The RACP Scale. The purpose and methodology of the research was explained to all participants, and upon their agreement an informed consent was obtained. Participants were invited to fill out the questionnaires wherever is more convenient for them, either alone or if needed, with the help of the researcher to protect their privacy. The questionnaires were collected by the researcher. Chi-square, fisher exact test and multiple logistic Regression model were used to assess the effective factors on the RACP. The data were analyzed by SPSS software version 26. Results A total of 641 people with an average age of 36.85 ± 12.05 years participated in this study. Of those, 377 (58.8%) had high RACP. The logistics model showed an association between the chance of readiness for receiving ACP with participants’ education level, such that the chance of readiness in those with Master's or Ph.D. degrees was three times higher than those with a diploma (p = 0.00, OR:3.178(1.672, 6.043)). However, the chances of readiness in those with bachelor’s degrees was not significantly different from those with a diploma (p = 0.936, OR: 0.984 (0.654, 1.479)). Moreover, the chance of readiness was 1.5 higher in participants over 40 years of age compared with participants under the age of 40 (P = 0.01, OR: 1.571(1.10, 2.23)). Conclusion According to the findings of this study, it can be concluded that there is a RACP among people in Iranian society. Age and education level are influencing factors in the readiness of individuals for ACP. The readiness of individuals for ACP increases by their age and education level. Therefore, by holding appropriate training workshops and information sessions, we can increase the readiness of the public for ACP to improve their end-of-life outcome.