Gender differences in older adults' preferences for life-sustaining medical treatments and end-of-life values.
In the present study, we examined gender differences in preferences for life sustaining treatments in response to various health state scenarios and the endorsement of end-of-life values in 99 older adults. Men preferred life-sustaining treatments more than women overall, for specific treatments (i.e., CPR, surgery, and artificial feeding), and in response to specific health scenarios (i.e., current health, Alzheimer's disease, coma with a slight chance of recovery). In terms of values, women indicated a greater desire for a dignified death than men.
Bookwala
J
J
Pennsylvania State University, Abington College, Pennsylvania, USA. jab61@psu.edu
Coppola
K M
KM
Fagerlin
A
A
Ditto
P H
PH
Danks
J H
JH
Smucker
W D
WD
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012737:Sex Factors; D012945:Social Values