Advance healthcare directives: Knowledge and attitudes of Irish consultant physicians

Abstract

Aims The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 provides a legislative framework for advance healthcare directives in Ireland. This study assessed Irish consultant physicians’ knowledge of the provisions of the Act relating to advance healthcare directives, and their attitudes towards advance healthcare directives in general. Methods Data were collected between May and October 2016. A questionnaire was distributed to all consultant physicians listed in the Irish Medical Directory under general internal medicine specialties. True/false questions assessed knowledge of the provisions of the Act. Likert-type questions assessed attitudes towards advance healthcare directives. Results The overall response rate was 28.7% (238/830). Only 42.1% of respondents were aware of the provisions of the Act relating to advance healthcare directives. Of the seven questions that assessed knowledge of those provisions, the mean score was 3.31/7. 78.7% agreed that advance healthcare directives are helpful when making treatment decisions for incapacitated patients. Only 15.7% regularly advise their patients to create advance healthcare directives. Discussion Irish physicians are broadly supportive of advance healthcare directives but there are deficiencies in their knowledge of the law relating to them. Efforts should be made to educate physicians regarding the provisions of the Act prior to its commencement.