Patients' perceptions of physicians' recommendations for comfort care differ by patient age and gender.
OBJECTIVE
To determine patient characteristics associated with patient and proxy perceptions of physicians' recommendations for life-prolonging care versus comfort care, and with acceptance of such recommendations.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Five teaching hospitals in Denver, Colo.


METHODS
We studied 239 hospitalized adults believed by physicians to have a high likelihood of dying within 6 months.


RESULTS
Interviews with patients or proxies were conducted to determine perceptions of physicians' recommended goal of care and roles in decision making.


RESULTS
Patients' mean age was 66.6 years; 44% were women. In adjusted analysis, age greater than 70 years and female gender were associated with a higher likelihood of believing that comfort care had been recommended by the physician (odds ratio [OR], 3.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.89 to 7.24; OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.04 to 3. 84, respectively). Patients and proxies gave substantial decision-making authority to physicians: 29% responded that physicians dominate decision making, 55% that decision making is equally shared by physicians and patients, and only 16% that patients make decisions. Increasing age was associated with an increased likelihood of believing that physicians should dominate decision making (P <.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Among patients with advanced illness, perceived comfort care recommendations were related to patient age and gender, raising concern about possible gender and age bias in physicians' recommendations. Although all patients and proxies gave significant decision-making authority to physicians, older individuals were more likely to give physicians decision-making authority, making them more vulnerable to possible physician bias.
Johnson
M F
MF
Center on Aging Research Section, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA. marie.johnson@uchsc.edu
Lin
M
M
Mangalik
S
S
Murphy
D J
DJ
Kramer
A M
AM
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003120:Colorado; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012737:Sex Factors; D013727:Terminal Care