Promoting patients' rights at the end of life in a geriatric setting in France: the healthcare professionals’ level of knowledge about surrogate decision-makers and advance directives

Abstract Objective To assess levels of knowledge about patients’ rights, surrogate decision-makers, and advance directives among healthcare professionals at three hospitals in France. Methods A multicenter, cross-sectional study in three geriatric hospitals in the Paris area (France) in 2015. The participants’ level of knowledge was assessed via an 18-item self-questionnaire on surrogate decision-makers, advance directives, and end-of-life decision-making. The characteristics associated with a good level of knowledge were assessed using logistic regression. Results Among the 301 healthcare professionals (median ± standard deviation age: 40.4 ± 10.2 years; women: 73.4%), only 15.0% (95% confidence interval (CI): [19.7-29.5]) correctly answered at least 75% of the questions on patients’ rights. Respectively 24.6% [19.7-29.5], 36.5% [31.1-42.0] and 37.5% [32.0-43.0] had sufficient knowledge regarding “surrogate decision-maker”, “advance directives”, and “decision-making at the end of life”. In a multivariable analysis, the only factor significantly associated with a good level of knowledge about end-of-life policy was employment in a university hospital, with a non-significant trend for status as a physician. Conclusions Our survey of staff working in geriatric care units highlighted the poor overall level of knowledge about healthcare surrogates and advance directives; the results suggest that additional training in these concepts is required. Practice implications Continuing education of healthcare professionals on advance directives and surrogate decision-maker should be promoted to ensure rights of elderly patients at the end of life.