title: Factors that affect decisions to receive (or not receive) life-sustaining treatment in advance care planning.
abstract: This study identifies factors that affect decisions people make regarding whether they want to receive life-sustaining treatment. It is an interpretive-descriptive study based on qualitative data from three focus groups (N = 23), representing a diverse population in central Pennsylvania. Study sites included a suburban senior center serving a primarily White, middle-class population; an urban senior center serving a frail, underserved, African American population; and a breast cancer support group. The most important factors affecting whether participants wished to receive life-sustaining medical treatment were prognosis, expected quality of life, burden to others, burden to oneself in terms of the medical condition and treatment, and effect on mental functioning and independence. Our findings contribute to the knowledge of the complex factors that influence how people make decisions about advance care planning and life-sustaining treatments. This understanding is critical if nurses are to translate the patient's goals, values, and preferences into an actionable medical plan.
authors.forename: Jane R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Schubart
authors.forename: Benjamin H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dellasega
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D032722:Advance Care Planning; D016223:Advance Directives / Q000523:psychology*; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology