Engaging Patients With Advance Directives Using an Information Visualization Approach

Abstract

Despite the benefits of advance directives (AD) to both patients and care providers, they are often not completed due to lack of patient awareness. The purpose of this paper is to advocate for creation and use of an innovative information visualization (infovisual) as a health communication tool aimed at improving AD dissemination and engagement. The infovisual would promote AD awareness by engaging patients to learn about their options and inspire contemplation and conversation regarding patients’ end-of-life (EOL) journey. An infovisual may be able to communicate insights that are often communicated in words, but are much more powerfully communicated by example. Furthermore, an infovisual could facilitate vivid understanding of options and inspire the beginning of often-difficult conversations between care providers, patients and loved ones. It may also save clinicians’ time, as care providers may be able to spend less time explaining details of EOL care options. Use of an infovisual could assist in ensuring a well-planned EOL.

Knowledge and Attitudes towards Living Wills among Medical University students

“…More than 60% of the medical students believe that it is extremely necessary to train medical staff on the content of living wills. A scholar suggest that innovative information visualization can be used to provide patients with a deep understanding of end-of-life choices and reflections, thus facilitating deep communication between healthcare professionals, patients, and their families (Woollen & Bakken, 2016). The UK, Canada and other countries have relevant legislation, and some government officials have proposed the promotion of living wills in China's legalized environment and the establishment of a government-directed living wills registry.…”

Provision of Advanced Care Planning Information by Public Institutions of Higher Education in the U.S.

“…In order for students to take a higher degree of responsibility in their healthcare, and for IHE to adequately address student questions and concerns, both patients and providers need to have a greater awareness and understanding of ACP (Levi et al, 2013;Nash et al, 2016;Wiener et al, 2013). A very promising way in which this can be achieved is through more effective health information campaigns (Vader et al, 2011;Woodlen & Bakken, 2016). However, it is unknown how many IHE provide such information to their students.…”