Association between social networks and discussions regarding advance care planning among Japanese older adults

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213894
• Publication Date: 2019-03-25T17:30:39Z
• Authors: Jun Miyashita; Yosuke Yamamoto; Sayaka Shimizu; Takuya Aoki; Teruhisa Azuma; Toshihiko Takada; Michio Hayashi; Miho Kimachi; Tatsuyoshi Ikenoue; Shingo Fukuma; Shunichi Fukuhara
• Keywords: Marital status; Social network (sociolinguistics); Advance Care Planning; Social Connectedness; Odds

Older adults' discussions with family, or physicians, both, about advance care planning (ACP) are increasingly regarded as important for the management of end-of-life care, and yet factors that induce older adults to engage in ACP poorly understood. For example, adults, is stronger connectedness family friends (stronger "networks") associated discussions? By facilitating, by impeding We sought evaluate associations between social networks Japanese adults.In July 2016 we conducted a cross-sectional survey on 355 community-dwelling patients aged ≥65 years visiting community hospital clinics Fukushima, Japan. used Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6, shortest available LSNS scale) assess recorded two components network structure, marital status (dichotomized "married" vs. "single / other") living ("living others" "living alone"). One item asked if had discussions. analyzed LSNS-6 data relation occurrence using multiple logistic regression models adjustments possible confounding factors.Respondents' was "limited" 16% cases; 61% Respondents limited significantly lower tendency have than respondents an "adequate" (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.18-0.66; P < 0.001). Marital were not discussion.Among weaker may be discuss ACP. Our findings help practitioners quickly screen populations at risk inadequate discussion LSNS-6.