Psychiatric advance directives in Switzerland: Knowledge and attitudes in patients compared to professionals and usage in clinical practice

Hotzy, Florian; Cattapan, Katja; Orosz, Ariane; Dietrich, Bianca; Steinegger, Brigitt; Jäger, Matthias; Theodoridou, Anastasia; Bridler, René (2020). Psychiatric advance directives in Switzerland: Knowledge and attitudes in patients compared to professionals and usage in clinical practice. International journal of law and psychiatry, 68, p. 101514. Elsevier 10.1016/j.ijlp.2019.101514

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Background
Psychiatric advance directives (PAD) were shown to be effective in the reduction of coercion and strengthening of the patients` autonomy. Therefore, the Swiss legislation was revised and stipulates that PAD must be taken into account during involuntary hospitalization. This study aimed to analyze knowledge on and attitudes towards this instrument in patients and healthcare practitioners and their usage in clinical practice.

Methods
We developed a structured questionnaire and included patients (n = 110), psychiatrists (n = 205), psychologists (n = 85), nurses (n = 268) and peers (n = 16) to rate their knowledge on and attitudes towards PAD. We registered the existing PAD in patients and peers. The response rate varied between 17% (nurses), 19% (psychologists) 21% (psychiatrists), 33% (peers) and 56% (patients).

Results
Only 7% of the participating patients had a PAD. Compared to the other groups, patients had the least knowledge on PAD. Psychiatrists were significantly more critical towards PAD. Concerns that PAD impede necessary and adequate treatment, restrict professionals and result in conflicts between patients and HCP were most frequently named as reason for critical attitudes.

Conclusions
Although being explicitly mentioned in the Swiss legislation the usage of PAD is small. Proactive information and training of psychiatrists might be helpful for a reduction of skeptical attitudes. This might improve the attitudes and lead to active support of patients during the preparation of PAD.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > University Psychiatric Services > University Hospital of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy > Translational Research Center

UniBE Contributor:

Cattapan-Ludewig, Katja, Orosz, Ariane

Subjects:

300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 340 Law
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

0160-2527

Publisher:

Elsevier

Language:

English

Submitter:

Ariane Orosz

Date Deposited:

30 Dec 2019 14:13

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:34

Publisher DOI:

10.1016/j.ijlp.2019.101514

PubMed ID:

32033691

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.136880

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/136880

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