Showing 1 – 2 of 2 results.
Curated
Do Older Adults Know Their Spouses' End-of-Life Treatment Preferences? (ICPSR 25701)
Released/updated on: 2009-06-23
Geographic coverage: United States
When terminally ill patients become mentally incapacitated, their surrogates often make treatment decisions in collaboration with health care providers. The authors examined how surrogates' errors in reporting their spouses' preferences are affected by their gender, status as durable power of attorney for health care (DPAHC), whether they and their spouses discussed end-of-life preferences, and their spouses' health status. Structural equation models were applied to data from married couples in their mid-60s from the 2004 wave of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. Surrogates reported their spouses' preferences incorrectly 13 percent and 26 percent of the time in end-of-life scenarios involving cognitive impairment and physical pain, respectively. Surrogates projected their own preferences onto their spouses'. Similar patterns emerged regardless of surrogate gender and status as DPAHC, marital discussions about end-of-life preferences, or spousal health status. Implications for the process of surrogate decision-making and for future research are discussed.
Curated
Methods for Prioritizing Surrogate Desired Health Outcomes for Patients [Methods Study], Washington, DC and Maryland, 2013-2018 (ICPSR 39516)
Released/updated on: 2025-10-20
Geographic coverage: District of Columbia, United States, Maryland
Time period: 2013-01-01--2018-01-01
Children with intellectual and cognitive disabilities often have problems with reasoning, learning, and problem solving. With such challenges, caregivers may have to make choices for their children about their health care and treatments. These children may need such help into young adulthood.
In this study, the research team wanted to find out what matters most to caregivers about their children's care. Caregivers had children with an intellectual or cognitive disability plus a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety. The team interviewed caregivers about their preferences. Then the team used this information to design a survey. A larger group of caregivers filled out the survey.