Title

Patients' and Surrogates' Decision-Making Characteristics Withdrawing, Withholding, and Continuing Life-Sustaining Treatments

Authors

Authors

L. W. Melhado;J. F. Byers

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

J. Hosp. Palliat. Nurs.

Keywords

advance planning; end-of-life decision-making and communication; medical; futility; withdrawing or withholding life-sustaining treatment; HEALTH-CARE PROVIDERS; INTENSIVE-CARE; HOSPITALIZED-PATIENTS; END; SUPPORT; FAMILIES; FUTILE; DEATH; ICU; COMMUNICATION; Nursing

Abstract

This integrated literature review examined clinically relevant evidence and provides insight regarding characteristics of patients and surrogates who withdraw or withhold life-sustaining treatment when faced with end-of-life, decision-making, or medically futile treatment compared with those who continue life-sustaining treatment against clinicians' recommendations. Spiraling healthcare costs and propensity to prolong life in the chronically and critically ill have spurred national debate of end-of-life care in the older adult population. Given the challenges associated with longevity, evaluation of current care practices and research are needed to determine best practice to improve communication for a diverse group with differences in culture, ethnicity, education, language, and family systems that influence decision making at end-of-life. Inclusion and exclusion parameters guided the review; databases searched were CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, PsychINFO, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Limits included studies from 1995 to 2010, English language and peer reviewed, yielding 19 articles that met the inclusion criteria and answered the research question. Several characteristics were extracted from the study results and clustered into topics. Awareness of patients' and surrogates' decision-making characteristics and communication styles can help clinicians identify potential barriers and variations in patterns of communication. Initial and ongoing assessments of patients' and surrogates' communication style and characteristics must be incorporated into the plan of care. Knowledge of key decision-making characteristics can be useful in role playing and education for clinicians in the health profession.

Journal Title

Journal of Hospice & Palliative Nursing

Volume

13

Issue/Number

1

Publication Date

1-1-2011

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

16

Last Page

28

WOS Identifier

WOS:000285912600003

ISSN

1522-2179

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