BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether health-related media stories reach diverse older adults and influence advance care planning (ACP). OBJECTIVE: To determine exposure to media coverage of Terri Schiavo (TS) and its impact on ACP. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Descriptive study of 117 English/Spanish-speakers, aged >or=50 years (mean 61 years) from a county hospital, interviewed six months after enrollment into an advance directive study. MEASUREMENTS: We assessed whether participants had heard of TS and subject characteristics associated with exposure. We also asked whether, because of TS, subjects engaged in ACP. MAIN RESULTS: Ninety-two percent reported hearing of TS. Participants with adequate literacy were more likely than those with limited literacy to report hearing of TS (100% vs. 79%, P < .001), as were participants with >or= a high school vs. < high school education (97% vs. 82%, P = .004), and English vs. Spanish-speakers (96% vs. 85%, P = .04). Because of TS, many reported clarifying their own goals of care (61%), talking to their family/friends about ACP (66%), and wanting to complete an advance directive (37%). CONCLUSIONS: Most diverse older adults had heard of TS and reported that her story activated them to engage in ACP. Media stories may provide a powerful opportunity to engage patients in ACP and develop public health campaigns.
BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether health-related media stories reach diverse older adults and influence advance care planning (ACP). OBJECTIVE: To determine exposure to media coverage of Terri Schiavo (TS) and its impact on ACP. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Descriptive study of 117 English/Spanish-speakers, aged >or=50 years (mean 61 years) from a county hospital, interviewed six months after enrollment into an advance directive study. MEASUREMENTS: We assessed whether participants had heard of TS and subject characteristics associated with exposure. We also asked whether, because of TS, subjects engaged in ACP. MAIN RESULTS: Ninety-two percent reported hearing of TS. Participants with adequate literacy were more likely than those with limited literacy to report hearing of TS (100% vs. 79%, P < .001), as were participants with >or= a high school vs. < high school education (97% vs. 82%, P = .004), and English vs. Spanish-speakers (96% vs. 85%, P = .04). Because of TS, many reported clarifying their own goals of care (61%), talking to their family/friends about ACP (66%), and wanting to complete an advance directive (37%). CONCLUSIONS: Most diverse older adults had heard of TS and reported that her story activated them to engage in ACP. Media stories may provide a powerful opportunity to engage patients in ACP and develop public health campaigns.
Authors: R Moynihan; L Bero; D Ross-Degnan; D Henry; K Lee; J Watkins; C Mah; S B Soumerai Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2000-06-01 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: J C Hofmann; N S Wenger; R B Davis; J Teno; A F Connors; N Desbiens; J Lynn; R S Phillips Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 1997-07-01 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Rebecca L Sudore; Adam D Schickedanz; C Seth Landefeld; Brie A Williams; Karla Lindquist; Steven Z Pantilat; Dean Schillinger Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2008-04-10 Impact factor: 5.562
Authors: Rebecca L Sudore; Anita L Stewart; Sara J Knight; Ryan D McMahan; Mariko Feuz; Yinghui Miao; Deborah E Barnes Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-09-05 Impact factor: 3.240