- CDC Cancels Measles Help for Texas Schools Amid Staff Layoffs
- CDC Shuts Down Key Labs for Hepatitis and STI Testing After Layoffs
- FDA May Shift Routine Food Inspections to States
- Supreme Court Case Targets Free Preventive Care Provided By The Affordable Care Act
- Biological Link Identified Between Heavy Weed Use And Psychosis
- Chemo Drug Effective For Kids With Sickle Cell Disease
- Lung Cancer Remains At Bay Long After Immune Therapy Is Dropped
- Early Signs Of Autism Might Appear In Infants
- Cutting-Edge Cancer Treatment Isn’t Known By Most Americans
- Child Concussion: What To Know If Your Child Takes a Blow To the Head
Most Americans Don’t Deal With End-of-Life Issues, Study Finds

Most Americans do not deal with end-of-life issues and wishes, a new study indicates.
Researchers analyzed data from nearly 8,000 people who took part in nationwide surveys conducted in 2009 and 2010, and found that only about 26 percent had completed an advance directive, also called a living will.
There were significant associations between completing an advance directive and age, income, education and health status, according to the study in the January issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Advance directives were more common among women, whites, married people and those who had a college degree or postgraduate training. People with advanced directives also were more likely to have a chronic disease or a regular source of care.
“For black and Hispanic respondents, advance directives were less frequent across all educational groups. These data indicate racial and educational disparities in advance directive completion and highlight the need for education about their role in facilitating [end-of-life] decisions,” Dr. Jaya Rao, who conducted the study while an associate professor in the division of pharmaceutical outcomes and policy at the University of North Carolina, said in a journal news release.
Lack of awareness was the most common reason for not having an advance directive.
Some previous studies have shown that health care costs are highest during the final years of life, but the use of advance directives reduces Medicare spending and the likelihood of in-hospital death.
“Given the current discussions about implementing various models of health care delivery, including the patient-centered medical home, [end-of-life] issues need to come to the forefront of planning efforts,” Rao said. “Hopefully, these findings will contribute to the current national conversations about [end-of-life] care.”
More information
The U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has more about end-of-life issues.
Source: HealthDay
Copyright © 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.