title: Psychological symptoms and end-of-life decision making confidencein surrogate decision-makers of dialysis patients.
abstract: This cross-sectional descriptive study explored surrogate decision-makers' psychological symptoms and their own assessment of decision-making abilities before actual involvement in end-of-life decision-making for their loved ones. One hundred-twenty dialysis patients' surrogates (79 African Americans and 41 Caucasians) completed scales measuring decision-making confidence, anxiety and depression, Post-Traumatic Symptoms (PTSS), and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Forty-two (35%) and 14 (11.7%) surrogates showed abnormal scores on anxiety and depression, respectively. Seven (5.8%) surrogates showed abnormal scores on PTSS. While surrogates decision making confidence was high (M=17.70, SD=2.88), there was no association between decision-making confidence and the three psychological variables. Surrogates' confidence was associated only with the quality of relationship with patient (r=0.33,p=0.001).
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Mi-Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Sandra E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, Palliative Care Program, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Feng-Chang
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Jill B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hladik
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Jason P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Jessica C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bridgman
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Summer K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: Margaret S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Miles