Title

Honoring Patient Care Preferences: Surrogates Speak

Abstract

A growing body of evidence has pointed to the stressful experience surrounding surrogate decision-making on behalf of incapacitated patients. This study (N = 59) asked surrogates to speak about their experiences immediately after having made a life-sustaining treatment decision. Grounded theory analysis revealed four themes: (1) the emotional impact of the decision-making process on the surrogate; (2) the difficulty of watching a loved one's health deteriorate; (3) the importance of having a Living Will (LW) or other written/verbal instructions; and (4) the reliance on spirituality as a means of coping with the surrogate experience. Findings of this study suggest that engaging surrogates at the time of patient admission may be essential in order to clarify patient preferences and strengthen communication between surrogates and the interdisciplinary healthcare team. © 2012, Baywood Publishing Co., Inc.

Publication Date

1-1-2012

Publication Title

Omega (United States)

Volume

65

Issue

4

Number of Pages

257-280

Document Type

Article

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.2190/OM.65.4.b

Socpus ID

84866147660 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/84866147660

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