title: Two instruments to measure interdisciplinary bioethical decision making.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and test two instruments measuring decision making about level of aggressiveness of intensive care unit (ICU) patient care. Decisions about Aggressiveness of Patient Care (DAC) measures care providers' general perceptions about decision making. Decisions about Aggressiveness of Patient Care for Specific Patients (DAC[SP]) measures perceptions in specific situations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-phase psychometric instrument evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phase I, nationally mailed questionnaire. Phase II, northeastern medical center medical ICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  Phase I, 22 ICU nurse and physician experts. Phase II, 35 medical ICU staff nurses and eight medical resident physicians.
  
  
  METHODS
  Psychometric properties of instruments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Content validity of both tools was supported by their development from the literature and by the experts. Face validity was supported by the experts, staff nurses, and medical resident physicians. Both instruments had variance in responses, internal consistency reliability (r = 0.53, r = 0.73) and, test-retest reliability (r = 0.73).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These instruments may enrich our understanding of how care providers make bioethical decisions for ICU patients. Such understanding could assist with development of interventions to increase collaborative interdisciplinary decision making, leading to increased care provider satisfaction and better patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: University of Rochester, School of Nursing, NY 14642.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Baggs
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003422:Critical Care; D003657:Decision Making; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires