title: Engagement in decision-making and patient satisfaction: a qualitative study of older patients' perceptions of dialysis initiation and modality decisions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although shared decision-making (SDM) can better align patient preferences with treatment, barriers remain incompletely understood and the impact on patient satisfaction is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a qualitative study with semistructured interviews. A purposive sample of prevalent dialysis patients ≥65 years of age at two facilities in Greater Boston were selected for diversity in time from initiation, race, modality and vintage. A codebook was developed and interrater reliability was 89%. Codes were discussed and organized into themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 31 interviews with 23 in-center hemodialysis patients, 1 home hemodialysis patient and 7 peritoneal dialysis patients were completed. The mean age was 76 ± 9 years. Two dominant themes (with related subthemes) emerged: decision-making experiences and satisfaction, and barriers to SDM. Subthemes included negative versus positive decision-making experiences, struggling for autonomy, being a 'good patient' and lack of choice. In spite of believing that dialysis initiation should be the patient's choice, no patients perceived that they had made a choice. Patients explained that this is due to the perception of imminent death or that the decision to start dialysis belonged to physicians. Clinicians and family frequently overrode patient preferences, with patient autonomy honored mostly to select dialysis modality. Poor decision-making experiences were associated with low treatment satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite recommendations for SDM, many older patients were unaware that dialysis initiation was voluntary, held mistaken beliefs about their prognosis and were not engaged in decision-making, resulting in poor satisfaction. Patients desired greater information, specifically focusing on the acuity of their choice, prognosis and goals of care.
authors: Department of Occupational Therapy, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.|Research on Aging, Ethics, and Community Health, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors: Keren
authors: K
authors: Ladin
authors: Department of Occupational Therapy, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.|Research on Aging, Ethics, and Community Health, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors: Naomi
authors: N
authors: Lin
authors: Research on Aging, Ethics, and Community Health, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors: Emily
authors: E
authors: Hahn
authors: Research on Aging, Ethics, and Community Health, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
authors: Gregory
authors: G
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Koch-Weser
authors: Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
authors: Daniel E
authors: DE
authors: Weiner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D010465:Perception; D010820:Physicians; D036301:Qualitative Research; D006435:Renal Dialysis
keywords: decision-making; dialysis; geriatric nephrology; informed consent; older adults; patient-centered outcomes; qualitative methods; shared decision-making