AN INTERNET-BASED, MULTIGENERATIONAL INTERVENTION TO ENHANCE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT CARE PREFERENCES

Family members find it difficult to communicate about end-of-life care preferences. Yet accurate knowledge about care preferences can enhance a range of outcomes for both patients and family caregivers. In this study we developed and evaluated an Internet-based, multigenerational intervention used with 40 later-life families (130 individuals) to enhance knowledge about care preferences. Conducting this kind of applied research over the Internet presents a range of benefits but also challenges. In this presentation we review both, and share results from the completed intervention. Overall, there was a wide range of knowledge about family members’ care preferences, with intraclass correlations suggesting poor to good knowledge. The intervention enhanced knowledge about care preferences in some families but not others, suggesting the value of tailoring communication tools to address unique features of families. This research provides an example of one methodology among the many different approaches likely needed to enhance communication in families.