Abstract
The purpose of this study was to clarify elderly interest in medical professional's lecture as to terminal care, and related factors. Subjects were 258 Senior Citizens' Club Members, 58.9% were interested. Age was a related factor, that is, younger elderly were more interested. Other factors such as discussion about terminal care with family or medical staff, consulting family physician, family function, and experience in surgery were associated with their interest. On the other hand, more than half rely on doctor or family to do decision-making about life-sustaining treatment, if impossible to recover and only 12.2% understood living wills well. Therefore it is important to educate younger elderly to have discussion about end-of-life issues and advance directives in consideration of the relationship with their relatives.
