Patient and physician roles in end-of-life decision making.
This study is a cross-sectional descriptive survey of randomly selected primary care patients and physicians regarding patient, physician, and family roles in end-of-life decision making. The subjects included 329 adult outpatients and 272 practicing physicians. Physicians were more likely than patients to believe the patient alone was responsible for making end-of-life decisions. Patients were more likely than physicians to believe the physician should provide a recommendation in addition to facts to help the patient make end-of-life decisions. We conclude that patients prefer a more active role for physicians in both decision making and discussion of end-of-life care than do physicians themselves.
Johnston
S C
SC
University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS, USA.
Pfeifer
M P
MP
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010819:Physician's Role; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013727:Terminal Care; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult