Advance directives as a topic in medical education

Abstract

This study investigated the knowledge of medical professors and students during internship regarding advance directives, a device that aims to ensure the right of patients to record their preference for medical care they will be subject to when incapable of making decisions. This is a cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study with a mostly quantitative approach, of which participated 30 professors and 121 medical students from two teaching institutions in Belém/PA. The results identified gaps in the knowledge about the topic, pointing to the need for a deeper approach during medical training and practice. It is concluded that the divulging of advance directives in medical training should be more intense to favor autonomy and share decision making.