Factors Influencing the Intention to Engage in Advance Care Planning at the End of Life among Older Adults with Chronic Diseases
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Abstract
This descriptive correlational study aimed to examine the factors influencing the intention to engage in advance care planning at the end of life among older adults with chronic illnesses. The sample consisted of 300 older adults who had been diagnosed with a chronic illness for more than one year. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. The research instruments included a demographic questionnaire and standardized questionnaires assessing attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention to engage in advance care planning at the end of life. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of the instruments were .77, .79, .84, and .82, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis (enter method).
The results indicated that attitudes toward advance care planning at the end of life and perceived behavioral control were positively associated with the intention to engage in advance care planning at the end of life, with statistical significance (r = .348 and .439, respectively; p < .001). Subjective norms were not significantly associated with intention. Together, these three factors significantly predicted the intention to engage in advance care planning among older adults with chronic illnesses, accounting for 21.30% of the variance (Adjusted R² = .213, F = 27.953, p < .001).
The findings suggest that healthcare providers should develop interventions that promote positive attitudes, enhance perceived behavioral control, and support older adults in making decisions regarding advance care planning.
Keywords: advance care planning, Intention toward advance care planning, older adults, chronic illness
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