Web-based questionnaire survey for exploring engagement characteristics of advance care planning in Japan: a cross-sectional study

Definitive promotion of advance care planning (ACP) practices will require policy interventions tailored to the characteristics of the Japanese population and society. However, effective policies for promoting ACP are currently lacking in Japan. This study aimed to explore the characteristics of Japanese people who engaged in ACP activities through a web-based questionnaire survey, which was administered to individuals aged 25–64 years and classified into four occupational categories (non-medical/non-caregiving professionals [general population], physicians, nurses, and caregivers).

The total sample size was 1,648, with equal occupational category and age group distributions. Respondents in the general population group were less likely to discuss or document ACP than those in the other groups. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed a significant difference in the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of the independent variables of “attended cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training session(s)” (aOR: 1.93; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18–3.15) and “having experience in performing CPR” (aOR: 2.61; 95% CI: 1.51–4.54) for respondents who discussed ACP with their families. A significant difference was observed in the aOR of the independent variable of “having experience in performing CPR” (aOR: 4.58; 95% CI: 2.30–9.13) for respondents who documented a written record of ACP.