title: Informed consent for cardiopulmonary resuscitation in elderly patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to determine if a semistructured interview would enable elderly patients to give adequately informed consent for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
  
  
  METHODS
  one hundred consecutive patients admitted to Wakari assessment and rehabilitation unit for the elderly, who satisfied study criteria, were randomly allocated to receive a detailed discussion on CPR or to act as controls. Subsequently knowledge about CPR was tested in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  of the 49 study subjects, 27 (55%) wished to have CPR in the event of a cardiac arrest. After the interview knowledge about the CPR was significantly better in the study group than the controls, but there was still a lack of appreciation of the possible complications and an overly optimistic view of the likely outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  careful explanation of the procedures involved in CPR does increase knowledge and assist in making an informed decision. However, the decision may still be based on poor understanding of the likely outcome and possible complications.
authors.affiliation: Wakari Hospital, Dunedin.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Caradoc-Davies
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Busby
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009520:New Zealand; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012151:Resuscitation / Q000592:standards; D016414:Resuscitation Orders