title: Patterns of decision making by wives of patients with life-threatening cardiac disease.
abstract: Implementation of the Patient Self-Determination Act (PSDA) in the United States has transferred decision making from the responsibility of health care professionals to the responsibility of family members. Dilemmas occurring as a result of this responsibility may cause stress and conflict among family members. The purpose of this study is to describe the patterns of decision making by family members of patients with life-threatening cardiac disease. Purposive sampling is used to select 10 wives of patients with life-threatening cardiovascular disease. Data are gathered through unstructured interviews and are analyzed using grounded theory and theory triangulation. Analysis of the data reveal three patterns of decision making: advocacy, acquiescence, and abdication.
authors.affiliation: University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688-0002, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Julie T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Sanford
authors.forename: Alice S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Demi
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D032722:Advance Care Planning / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D019726:Patient Self-Determination Act; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D019727:Proxy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D015144:Southeastern United States; D018454:Spouses / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D028761:Withholding Treatment / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence