Los documentos de voluntades anticipadas. La opinión de los representantes / Advance directives. Representatives' opinions

Introducción. El uso y utilidad de los documentos de voluntades anticipadas (DVA) es motivo de frecuente polémica en relación con su validez y eficacia, aspectos inexplorados en nuestro país desde la perspectiva de los representantes. Objetivo. Conocer la opinión de los representantes designados en un DVA registrado, sobre su utilización. Metodología. Estudio transversal mediante encuesta telefónica a los representantes de 146 personas fallecidas que, desde febrero de 2012, habían registrado un DVA. Resultados. Noventa y ocho (67,1%) de los entrevistados afirmaron que se consultó el DVA, 86 (58,9%) que se les consultó la opinión como representante y 120 (82,1%) creían que se respetó la voluntad del paciente. Ciento dos (69,9%) de las personas entrevistadas consideraron que los pacientes que previamente habían planificado su atención mediante un DVA tuvieron una buena muerte, 33 (22,4%) manifestaron que podría haber sido mejor y 10 (6,9%) creían que sufrieron mucho. Conclusión. Los DVA en su gran mayoría fueron consultados y respetados, y posiblemente este hecho se relaciona con que la mayoría de los representantes afirmasen que la muerte de sus representados fue percibida como confortable. Para finalizar sería conveniente otro tipo de estudios complementarios dirigidos a personal sanitario para conocer las percepciones de estos respecto a la utilización de los DVA en el proceso de muerte (AU)

Introduction. The use and usefulness of Advance Directives has led to a lot of controversy about their validity and effectiveness. Those areas are unexplored in our country from the perspective of representatives. Objective. To determine the opinion of the representatives appointed in a registered Statement of Advance Directives (SAD) on the use of this document. Methods. Telephone survey of representatives of 146 already dead people and who, since February 2012, had registered a SAD document. Results. More the two-thirds (98) of respondents recalled that the SAD was consulted, with 86 (58.9%) saying that their opinion as representative was consulted, and 120 (82.1%) believe that the patient's will was respected. Of those interviewed, 102 (69.9%) believe that patients who had previously planned their care using a SAD had a good death, with 33 (22.4%) saying it could have been better, and 10 (6.9%) believe they suffered greatly. Conclusion. The SAD were mostly respected and consulted, and possibly this is related to the fact that most of the representatives declare that the death of those they represented was perceived as comfortable. It would be desirable to conduct further studies addressed at health personnel in order to know their perceptions regarding the use of Advance Directives in the process of dying (AU)

[Advance directives. Representatives' opinions]. / Los documentos de voluntades anticipadas. La opinión de los representantes.

INTRODUCTION: The use and usefulness of Advance Directives has led to a lot of controversy about their validity and effectiveness. Those areas are unexplored in our country from the perspective of representatives. OBJECTIVE: To determine the opinion of the representatives appointed in a registered Statement of Advance Directives (SAD) on the use of this document. METHODS: Telephone survey of representatives of 146 already dead people and who, since February 2012, had registered a SAD document. RESULTS: More the two-thirds (98) of respondents recalled that the SAD was consulted, with 86 (58.9%) saying that their opinion as representative was consulted, and 120 (82.1%) believe that the patient's will was respected. Of those interviewed, 102 (69.9%) believe that patients who had previously planned their care using a SAD had a good death, with 33 (22.4%) saying it could have been better, and 10 (6.9%) believe they suffered greatly. CONCLUSION: The SAD were mostly respected and consulted, and possibly this is related to the fact that most of the representatives declare that the death of those they represented was perceived as comfortable. It would be desirable to conduct further studies addressed at health personnel in order to know their perceptions regarding the use of Advance Directives in the process of dying.