title: Responsive care management: family decision makers in advanced cancer.
abstract: The purpose of this prospective study was to develop a grounded theory explaining the process that family decision makers use to make care decisions with or for a family member with advanced cancer. Adult surrogate decision makers were recruited for multiple interviews over the patient's care trajectory: 40 surrogates provided 80 semi-structured interviews. Analysis of these narratives revealed a process of responsive care management that is inclusive of, but not limited to, decision-making roles. Monitoring, buffering, and taking over comprise the three phases of the process. Decision making was embedded within the family member's broader relational and care responsibilities.
authors.affiliation: University at Buffalo, State University of New York, School of Nursing, USA. Meeker@buffalo.edu
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Meeker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003657:Decision Making / Q000941:ethics; D005190:Family; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010344:Patient Advocacy; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011368:Professional-Family Relations / Q000941:ethics; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations / Q000941:ethics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016414:Resuscitation Orders / Q000941:ethics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires