The influence of default options on the expression of end-of-life treatment preferences in advance directives.
BACKGROUND
Advance directives promise to preserve patient autonomy, but research indicates that end-of-life preferences can be influenced by the way in which questions are posed.


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether preferences expressed by geriatric patients on advance directives are influenced by the default response inherent in the question.


METHODS
Mailed survey containing 1 of 3 versions of an advance directive.


METHODS
General internal medicine outpatient medical practice.


METHODS
Outpatients aged 65 or older (n = 106, response rate = 27%).


METHODS
In the "withhold" version of the survey, participants indicated situations where they would want treatments withheld (i.e., the default preference was in favor of treatment). In the "provide" version, participants indicated situations where they would want treatment provided (i.e., the default preference was against treatment). In the forced-choice control version, participants made an explicit decision to withhold or provide treatment for each situation.


METHODS
Participants' treatment preferences.


RESULTS
Preferences differed by condition, F(2, 103) = 3.61, MSE = 0.09, eta2 = .07, p = .03. Participants tended to express the default preference, and thus, were more likely to favor treatment in the "withhold" condition than in the "provide" condition. Preferences in the forced-choice control condition were intermediate.


CONCLUSIONS
The default inherent in a question can impact preferences for medical treatment. This default effect limits the utility of advance directives.
Kressel
Laura M
LM
Department of Psychology, New York University, 6 Washington Place, New York, NY 10003, USA. lmk323@nyu.edu
Chapman
Gretchen B
GB
Leventhal
Elaine
E
D016223:Advance Directives / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003625:Data Collection; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011177:Postal Service; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D028761:Withholding Treatment