title: Evaluation of a decision aid for making choices about intubation and mechanical ventilation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: To assist patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in advance planning for life-threatening exacerbations, we developed a structured decision aid that describes the process, risks, and outcomes of intubation and mechanical ventilation (MV). Thirty-three patients with severe COPD took part in a before-after evaluation study. At baseline, only two participants (6%) reported that they had already made an advance decision about MV. After reviewing the decision aid, 31 participants (94%) reported that they had made a choice, which in 23 cases (74% of those deciding) was to forego MV. These choices were associated with more accurate expectations of MV outcome, and reduced decisional conflict. Qualitatively, participants who would accept MV emphasized their wish to prolong life, whereas those who would forego MV were more influenced by the burdens of treatment and the perception of a poor long-term outcome. However, there was evidence that 24% of participants did not completely comprehend the decision aid and 27% found the experience to be stressful. These findings indicate that a decision aid for MV helps patients plan for life-threatening exacerbations, and may be a useful adjunct to counseling for some patients with severe COPD.
authors.affiliation: The Rehabilitation Centre, Ottawa, Ont., Canada K1H 8M2. kewilson@ottawahospital.on.ca
authors.forename: Keith G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: Shawn D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Aaron
authors.forename: Katherine L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Vandemheen
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hébert
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: McKim
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fiset
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Elyse
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sevigny
authors.forename: Annette M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009864:Ontario; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D018579:Patient Selection; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires