Reach and Impact of a Mass Media Event Among Vulnerable Patients: The Terri Schiavo Story

Background It is unknown whether health-related media stories reach diverse older adults and influence advance care planning (ACP). Objective To determine exposure to media coverage of Terri Schiavo (TS) and its impact on ACP. Design and Participants Descriptive study of 117 English/Spanish-speakers, aged ≥50 years (mean 61 years) from a county hospital, interviewed six months after enrollment into an advance directive study. Measurements We assessed whether participants had heard of TS and subject characteristics associated with exposure. We also asked whether, because of TS, subjects engaged in ACP. Main Results Ninety-two percent reported hearing of TS. Participants with adequate literacy were more likely than those with limited literacy to report hearing of TS (100% vs. 79%, P