Relationships Between Advance Care Planning Engagement, Patients’ Religious Practices, and Spirituality

Robyn M. Axel-Adams, Emily Fox Ludden, James E. Slaven, Michelle Cohen, Patrick O. Monahan, Emily S. Burke, Kathleen Ziemba, Susan E. Hickman, Alexia M. Torke, Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics, Indiana University Health, Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute, Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science, Indiana University School of Medicine, Respecting Choices, A Program of WiserCare Inc, Department of Community Health Systems, Indiana University School of Nursing, Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, The Evans Center for Religious and Spiritual Values in Healthcare, Indiana University Health

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®

Published online on July 03, 2026

Abstract

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Ahead of Print.
BackgroundResearch has shown that people who consider themselves religious have a lower advance directive (AD) completion rate. However, advance care planning (ACP) includes a broader range of activities that are important in determining medical ...