Abstract
The study purpose is to describe advance care planning attitudes and behaviors of Chinese American older adults. Chinese American senior center members (n=150) were interviewed. If diagnosed with incurable cancer, most reported wanting to know (86.7%), and wanting their family to know (88.7%) about this diagnosis. Half wanted someone other than themselves to be told first. Almost all (94.0%) wanted to know about symptoms as the illness progressed, and about life expectancy (88.5%). With this diagnosis, 79.3% wanted to know about life-sustaining treatments and 90% wanted to know about palliative care. Most (92.4%) had never discussed their end-of-life treatment preferences with their doctor, including 89.5% who reported wanting to have this discussion before they are ill. Most (94.3%) disagreed that discussing death and dying with their doctor could be harmful. The stereotype of Asian older adults not wanting to participate in advance care planning is not supported by these findings.