AUTHOR=Vilpert Sarah , Borasio Gian Domenico , Maurer Jürgen 

TITLE=Knowledge Gaps in End-of-Life Care and Planning Options Among Older Adults in Switzerland

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=67

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604676

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604676

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold> Good knowledge about end-of-life (EOL) care options helps in discussing and planning important aspects of the end of life in advance and contributes to improved well-being among dying patients and their families.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> Our study explores knowledge levels of EOL care and planning options and its sociodemographic and regional patterning using nationally representative data from respondents aged 55+ of wave 6 of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe in Switzerland (<italic>n</italic> = 2,199).</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Respondents answered correctly on average to just under four out of eight questions regarding EOL care options. Women, individuals with higher education levels, and those living with a partner showed a higher EOL knowledge score, whereas the score is lower among older adults (75+) and individuals living in French- and Italian-speaking Switzerland.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> In view of the significant EOL knowledge gaps among older adults in Switzerland, further education efforts on EOL care options are needed, with particular attention to the population groups most affected.</p>