Sexuality and Aging: |
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| Authors: | Paula E Lester Alzbeta Sykora Gisele P Wolf-Klein Renee Pekmezaris Charles Auerbach Martin Feuerman |
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| Institution: | 1. Division of Geriatric Medicine , Winthrop University Hospital;2. and Stony Brook University Medical , Mineola, New York, USA plester@winthrop.org;4. Department of Medicine , Winthrop University Hospital , Mineola, New York, USA;5. Geriatric Education, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System;6. and Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Long Island Jewish Medical Center , New Hyde Park, New York, USA;7. Community Health &8. Health Services Research, North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System;9. Albert Einstein College of Medicine , The Krasnoff Quality Management Institute, Community Health &10. Health Services Research , Manhasset, New York, USA;11. Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Albert Einstein College of Medicine , Yeshiva University , New York, New York, USA;12. Department of Academic Affairs , Winthrop University Hospital , Mineola, New York, USA |
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| Abstract: | Previous research has been conducted regarding preferences of physicians for life-sustaining treatments for themselves, but there is a dearth of data on personal use of advance directives (ADs) by geriatricians specifically. Using a phone survey, we contacted all graduates of the geriatric fellowship program to assess their personal use of advance directives and their personal preferences for life-sustaining treatment. Of the 124 living graduates of the Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation, 70 agreed to participate. One third of respondents had established ADs for themselves, with higher rates in women than men (p = .054). Older geriatricians were significantly more likely to have advance directives (exact trend test yields, p < .0001). In general, respondents did not inform their health care providers about their desires for end-of-life care. This study revealed that the majority of fellowship-trained geriatricians did not formally establish advance directives for themselves. Further research is needed to determine whether physicians who establish advance directives for themselves are more likely to encourage their patients to do so. |
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| Keywords: | ethics geriatrician advance directives end-of-life care |
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