The Doctor's Role in Discussing Advance Preferences for End-of-Life Care: Perceptions of Physicians Practicing in the VA
Creator
Markson, Lawrence
Clark, Jack
Glantz, Leonard
Lamberton, Victoria
Kern, Donald
Stollerman, Gene
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 1997 Apr; 45(4): 399-406.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Although previous studies have shown physicians support advance directives, little is known about how they actually participate in decision-making. This study investigate (1) how much experience physicians have had discussing and following advance preferences and (2) how physicians perceive their role in the advance decision-making process. DESIGN: Mail survey conducted in 1993. SETTING: The Department of Veterans Affairs. PARTICIPANTS: A national probability sample of 1050 VA internists, family physicians, and generalists. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Questionnaires were returned by 67% of participants. In the last year, 79% stated they had discussed advance preference with at least one patient, and 19% had talked to more than 25. Seventy-three percent had used a written directive to make decisions for at least one incompetent patient. Younger age, board certification, spending less time in the outpatient setting, and personal experience with advance decision-making, were all associated independently with having advance preference discussions. Among physicians who had discussions, 59% said they often initiated the discussion, 55% said discussions often occurred in inpatient settings, and 31% said discussions often occurred in outpatient settings. Eighty-two percent of those responding thought physicians should be responsible for initiating discussions. Most would try to persuade a patient to change a decision that was not well informed (91%), not medically reasonable (88%), or not in the patient's best interest (88%); few would attempt to change decisions that conflicted with their own moral beliefs (14%). CONCLUSIONS: Physicians report that they are actively involved with their patients in making decisions about end-of-life care. Most say they have had recent discussions with at least some of their patients and feel that as physicians they should play a large and important role in soliciting and shaping patient preferences.
Date
1997-04Subject
Advance Care Planning; Advance Directives; Age Factors; Attitudes; Communication; Decision Making; Federal Government; Government; Health; Health Care; Hospitals; Incentives; Knowledge; Life; Moral Obligations; Patients; Physician's Role; Physicians; Primary Health Care; Probability; Public Hospitals; Questionnaires; Survey; Terminal Care;
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The Doctor's Role in Discussing Advance Preferences for End- of-Life Care: Perceptions of Physicians Practicing in the VA
Markson, Lawrence; Clark, Jack; Glantz, Leonard; Lamberton, Victoria; Kern, Donald; Stollerman, Gene (1997-04)