Use of a videotape for educating patients about advance directives

Objective: Examine the influence of an 18-minute educational videotape abou t the usefulness of a health care proxy as an advance directive to enhance patient control over treatment decisions. Methods: Interviews of 204 hospit alized patients who viewed a videotape and 215 control patients who receive d only written information. Results: Patients reported the videotape was cl ear and useful, but patients who viewed the videotape did not differ from n onvideotape patients in actual completion or intention to complete a proxy. conclusion: Although videotapes alone may not increase completion of advan ce directives, videotapes may be useful as components of multifaceted effor ts to promote advance directives.