Table 2.
The descriptive data associated with each item of decisional balance, attitudes, practice behaviors of ACP (n = 166)
| Variable | Strongly Agree | Agree | Neutral | Disagree | Strongly Disagree | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decisional Balance Subscale (12 items) | f (%) | f (%) | f (%) | f (%) | f (%) | M ± SD | t | p |
| 1. It would be hard to do Advance Care Planning (ACP) because I don’t like thinking about being very ill. b | 6(3.6) | 65(39.2) | 27(16.3) | 50(30.1) | 18(10.8) | 3.05 ± 1.13 | 0.618 | 0.537 |
| 2. Doing ACP would simplify how decisions would be made if I were very ill. | 33(19.9) | 101(60.8) | 14(8.4) | 13(7.8) | 5(3.0) | 3.87 ± 0.93 | 12.087 | < 0.001*** |
| 3. It would be hard to do ACP because I don’t like thinking about death. b | 24(14.5) | 59(35.5) | 21(12.7) | 53(31.9) | 9(5.4) | 3.22 ± 1.20 | 2.335 | 0.021* |
| 4. I don’t want to talk with loved ones about end-of-life decisions. b | 19(11.4) | 77(46.4) | 25(15.1) | 40(24.1) | 5(3.0) | 3.39 ± 1.07 | 4.732 | < 0.001*** |
| 5. Doing ACP would make it easier on my close family and friends. | 33(19.9) | 105(63.3) | 17(10.2) | 8(4.8) | 3(1.8) | 3.95 ± 0.81 | 15.026 | < 0.001*** |
| 6. It would be hard to do ACP because there are too many options to consider for my end-of-life care. b | 5(3.0) | 53(31.9) | 26(15.7) | 69(41.6) | 13(7.8) | 3.19 ± 1.07 | 2.328 | 0.021* |
| 7. Understanding my wishes would help my loved ones to ensure I get the care I want. | 27(16.3) | 117(70.5) | 16(9.6) | 6(3.6) | 0(0) | 3.99 ± 0.64 | 20.098 | < 0.001*** |
| 8. I would feel better knowing I have done what I can to plan for my future. | 35(21.1) | 109(65.7) | 11(6.6) | 10(6.0) | 1(0.6) | 4.01 ± 0.76 | 17.083 | < 0.001*** |
| 9. ACP would go against my lifestyle of living in the moment. b | 2(1.2) | 30(18.1) | 20(12.0) | 91(54.8) | 23(13.9) | 3.62 ± 0.98 | 8.193 | < 0.001*** |
| 10. Doing ACP would give me peace of mind. | 31(18.7) | 111(66.9) | 17(10.2) | 6(3.6) | 1(0.6) | 3.99 ± 0.70 | 18.279 | < 0.001*** |
| 11. ACP would help me to keep control over what happens to me at the end of life. | 25(15.1) | 112(67.5) | 21(12.7) | 8(4.8) | 0(0) | 3.93 ± 0.68 | 17.482 | < 0.001*** |
| 12. It doesn’t make sense to do ACP because my wishes for my end-of-life care might change. b | 31(18.7) | 30(18.1) | 87(52.4) | 18(10.8) | 0(0) | 3.55 ± 0.92 | 7.779 | < 0.001*** |
| Attitudes Subscale (7 items) | ||||||||
| 13. If you fill out a document such as a living will, the doctors are more likely to stop life support too soon. b | 5(3.0) | 17(10.2) | 51(30.7) | 77(46.4) | 16(9.6) | 3.49 ± 0.91 | 6.972 | < 0.001*** |
| 14. There is no need for me to do ACP because once you reach a certain age; the doctors aren’t going to use machines to try to keep you alive. b | 5(3.0) | 20(12.0) | 37(22.3) | 86(51.8) | 18(10.8) | 3.55 ± 0.94 | 7.565 | < 0.001*** |
| 15. There is no need to do ACP because my doctor knows what I want for my end-of-life care. b | 5(3.0) | 39(23.5) | 40(24.1) | 67(40.4) | 15(9.0) | 3.29 ± 1.02 | 3.648 | < 0.001*** |
| 16. There is no need for me to do ACP because I will always be able to make my own treatment decisions. b | 3(1.8) | 43(25.9) | 34(20.5) | 77(46.4) | 9(5.4) | 3.28 ± 0.97 | 3.681 | < 0.001*** |
| 17. ACP would interfere with the plans that the Lord has for me. b | 1(0.6) | 15(9.0) | 11(6.6) | 110(66.3) | 29(17.5) | 3.91 ± 0.81 | 14.510 | < 0.001*** |
| 18. There is no need for me to do ACP because if I am made to suffer, then there must be a good reason for it. b | 3(1.8) | 38(22.9) | 23(13.9) | 84(50.6) | 18(10.8) | 3.46 ± 1.02 | 5.791 | < 0.001*** |
| 19. Planning for future medical care only makes sense for those who are much older or sicker than I am. b | 1(0.6) | 36(21.7) | 17(10.2) | 89(53.6) | 23(13.9) | 3.58 ± 1.00 | 7.544 | < 0.001*** |
| Practice Behaviors Subscale (15 items) | ||||||||
| 20. I looked for information on ACP. | 5(3.0) | 43(25.9) | 19(11.4) | 76(45.8) | 23(13.9) | 2.58 ± 1.11 | -4.836 | < 0.001*** |
| 21. I thought about information people have given me on ACP. | 8(4.8) | 57(34.3) | 18(10.8) | 68(41.0) | 15(9.0) | 2.85 ± 1.14 | -1.707 | 0.090 |
| 22. I remembered information people have given me on the need for ACP. | 6(3.6) | 53(31.9) | 20(12.0) | 69(41.6) | 18(10.8) | 2.76 ± 1.12 | -2.763 | 0.006** |
| 23. I reviewed my advanced care documents so that I know what they say. | 6(3.6) | 51(30.7) | 16(9.6) | 71(42.8) | 22(13.3) | 2.69 ± 1.15 | -3.514 | 0.001** |
| 24. There is someone I can talk to about doing ACP. | 17(10.2) | 91(54.8) | 21(12.7) | 31(18.7) | 6(3.6) | 3.49 ± 1.03 | 6.207 | < 0.001*** |
| 25. It is important that I make sure people close to me have copies of my advanced care plans with them. | 20(12.0) | 97(58.4) | 25(15.1) | 22(13.3) | 2(1.2) | 3.67 ± 0.90 | 9.604 | < 0.001*** |
| 26. Now is the right time to do ACP. | 21(12.7) | 83(50.0) | 31(18.7) | 27(16.3) | 4(2.4) | 3.54 ± 1.00 | 7.067 | < 0.001*** |
| 27. It is important that I make sure that I know where my advanced care documents can be found. | 23(13.9) | 111(66.9) | 20(12.0) | 11(6.6) | 1(0.6) | 3.87 ± 0.75 | 14.880 | < 0.001*** |
| 28. I can do ACP even if it is difficult for my loved ones. | 24(14.5) | 101(60.8) | 29(17.5) | 11(6.6) | 1(0.6) | 3.82 ± 0.78 | 13.520 | < 0.001*** |
| 29. Doing ACP makes me feel like a person who cares about my close family and friends. | 28(16.9) | 112(67.5) | 21(12.7) | 4(2.4) | 1(0.6) | 3.98 ± 0.67 | 18.788 | < 0.001*** |
| 30. I can count on my loved ones to help me with ACP. | 7(4.2) | 59(35.5) | 38(22.9) | 55(33.1) | 7(4.2) | 3.02 ± 1.02 | 0.306 | 0.760 |
| 31. I think of myself as someone who can reduce suffering for me and my family by doing ACP. | 30(18.1) | 110(66.3) | 19(11.4) | 6(3.6) | 1(0.6) | 3.98 ± 0.71 | 17.846 | < 0.001*** |
| 32. My loved ones will support me as I do ACP. | 18(10.8) | 93(56.0) | 50(30.1) | 5(3.0) | 0(0) | 3.75 ± 0.69 | 14.054 | < 0.001*** |
| 33. The thought of having an advanced care plan makes me feel good about taking responsibility for my health care. | 33(19.9) | 113(68.1) | 14(8.4) | 6(3.6) | 0(0) | 4.04 ± 0.66 | 20.512 | < 0.001*** |
| 34. I feel committed to doing ACP. | 32(19.3) | 81(48.8) | 40(24.1) | 12(7.2) | 1(0.6) | 3.79 ± 0.86 | 11.843 | < 0.001*** |
Note: b negative frame (keyed inversely) * p < 0.05; ** p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001