Advance directives: knowledge and acceptance by health professionals

Authors

Abstract

Using a self-administered questionnaire, this study investigated the knowledge and acceptance by health
professionals of advance directives and palliative care in primary care. Of the 40 participating
health professionals, most were nurses, physicians, and nursing technicians. Female professionals
(77.5%) between 30 and 59 years of age (82.5%), with 10 to 19 years since graduation (45%) and married
(65%) predominated in the sample. Most participants (65%) showed familiarity with the World Health
Organization’s guidelines on palliative care. However, over half (55%) were unaware of advance directives.
Professionals showed reasonable knowledge of World Health Organization guidelines on palliative care but
complete ignorance about advance directives, indicating the need for including content about palliative
care and advance directives in the education and updating curricula of health professionals.

Keywords:

Advance Directives, Palliative Care., Personal Autonomy, Patient rights, Living will

Author Biographies

André Ricardo Andrade de Oliveira, Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Joaçaba/SC, Brasil.

André Ricardo Andrade de Oliveira – Mestre – andre_rao@hotmail.com
0000-0001-9329-7736

Cláudia Elisa Grasel, Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Joaçaba/SC, Brasil.

Cláudia Elisa Grasel – Doutora – claudia.grasel@unoesc.edu.br
0000-0001-5744-388X

Daniela Zilio, Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Joaçaba/SC, Brasil.

Daniela Zilio – Doutora – danielazilio@yahoo.com.br
0000-0001-5683-8708

Grasieli de Oliveira Ramos, Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Joaçaba/SC, Brasil.

Grasieli de Oliveira Ramos – Doutora – grasieli.ramos@unoesc.edu.br
0000-0003-1305-8060

José Carlos Abellán Salort, Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Joaçaba/SC, Brasil.

José Carlos Abellán Salort – Doutor – jose.abellan@urjc.es
0000-0002-4470-4646

Elcio Luiz Bonamigo, Universidade do Oeste de Santa Catarina, Joaçaba/SC, Brasil.

Elcio Luiz Bonamigo – Doutor – elcio.bonamigo@unoesc.edu.br
0000-0002-0226-7070

Vol. 33 (2025): Continued publication

Published:

2025-06-24

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1983-803420253843PT

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How to Cite

1.
Andrade de Oliveira AR, Grasel CE, Zilio D, de Oliveira Ramos G, Abellán Salort JC, Bonamigo EL. Advance directives: knowledge and acceptance by health professionals. Rev. bioét.(Impr.). [Internet]. 2025 Jun. 24 [cited 2025 Aug. 21];33. Available from: https://revistabioetica.cfm.org.br/revista_bioetica/article/view/3843

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