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Revista de Enfermagem Referência
Print version ISSN 0874-0283On-line version ISSN 2182-2883
Abstract
SANTOS, Lúcia and CERQUEIRA, Manuela. Health professionals’ experiences in complying with the Advance Directive of Will in clinical practice. Rev. Enf. Ref. [online]. 2022, vol.serVI, n.1, e21153. Epub Jan 23, 2023. ISSN 0874-0283. https://doi.org/10.12707/rv21153.
Background:
The Advance Directive of Will allows the person to express their desire regarding their end-of-life experience. Complying with this directive requires health professionals to have the skills to deal with the complexity of these experiences.
Objective:
To identify the health professionals’ experiences in complying with the Advance Directive of Will in clinical practice.
Methodology:
A qualitative, exploratory, and descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Participants included health professionals from a hospital in northern Portugal. Content analysis was performed according to Bardin’s framework. All ethical and legal principles were respected.
Results:
Study participants consider the advance directive of will as an instrument that specifies the patient’s wishes regarding end-of-life care. They emphasize that, when fulfilling these directives, they experience various emotions and feelings, like fear, impotence, and respect.
Conclusion:
Complying with the advance directive of will demands the definition of criteria for supported and shared decision-making. Thus, a greater commitment to training is necessary.
Keywords : living wills; life experience; health personnel.