Roles and responsibilities of health care agents: views of patients and agents.
Two qualitative methods were used to explore, from the perspectives of both patients and agents, the roles and responsibilities of health care agents related to making end-of-life decisions. Results of the individual interviews revealed that both patients and agents did not have a clear understanding of the role, responsibility, and legal authority of health care agents. The results of the focus group of former agents indicated that when assuming the role, some agents had both knowledge and experience in making end-of-life decisions, whereas others had little understanding of their role. Former agents discussed serious communication difficulties they had encountered with health care professionals when making life-and-death decisions.
Research and Development Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Northport, Northport, New York 11768-2290, USA. asrat.tesfa@va.gov
Asrat
A
Tesfa
Karen Orloff
KO
Kaplan
Mary L
ML
Meyer
Denise M
DM
Coachman
D000328:Adult; D016223:Advance Directives / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009511:New England; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D019727:Proxy / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012380:Role; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*