Psychiatric Advance Directives: An Analysis of Current Usage at a Large County Hospital.

ABSTRACT:

Background/purpose

Approximately one third of adults in the United States complete a Medical Advance Directive in their lifetime. However, few complete a Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD), despite the high prevalence of psychiatric illness. PADs help those with mental illness specify their care preferences during periods of acute psychiatric illness. Given the minimal research regarding PAD usage, the use of PADs in clinical practice remains poorly understood. This study aims to use electronic health record (EHR) data to investigate and describe PAD usage in a large, county health system.

Methods

EHR data for all patients 18 years and older with a 2022 inpatient or observation discharge were retrieved. A sample of these patients who had scanned Advance Directive documents

SUBMITTER: Mathesh V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12710518 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature