Advanced cancer patients' knowledge and opinions regarding the French law on advance directives: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Advance directives (AD) are a key tool within advance care planning (ACP), intended to support patient autonomy and guide end-of-life care. Despite their legal recognition in France, their use in the general population remains limited. Moreover, data on AD use among patients with advanced cancer, a population particularly concerned by end-of-life decisions, remain scarce. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and opinions regarding AD among patients with advanced cancer in France who were receiving specialized palliative care.

Methods

Between 2016 and 2020, we conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study across 14 palliative care departments in France. Patients with advanced cancer completed a standardized questionnaire assessing their awareness, use, and percept

SUBMITTER: Evin A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12816091 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature