Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA.
J Aging Health. 2011 Feb;23(1):135-57. doi: 10.1177/0898264310385114. Epub 2010 Oct 14.
This study assesses the proportions of participants who prefer independent or delegated medical decision making at the end of life and examines the relationships of personal beliefs, affiliative beliefs, and end-of-life planning behaviors to decision-making preference.
Data are drawn from the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, a sample of nearly 4,500 healthy White Midwestern high school graduates in their mid-60s.
Four fifths of participants wanted to make decisions independently. Valuing independence, being less avoidant of thoughts of death, and valuing quality of life over length of life had strong associations with a preference for independent decision making. Those concerned about burdening a caregiver wanted to make independent decisions. Persons who both executed a living will and appointed a durable power of attorney for health care preferred independent decision making.
Older adults cite personal and affiliative beliefs, not lack of autonomy, as reasons for their choice to decide independently or delegate.
本研究评估了在生命末期参与者更喜欢自主或委托医疗决策的比例，并探讨了个人信念、亲和信念和临终规划行为与决策偏好的关系。
数据来自威斯康星州纵向研究，该研究是一项针对近 4500 名健康的中西部白人中学毕业生的样本，年龄在 60 多岁中期。
五分之四的参与者希望独立做出决策。重视独立性、较少回避死亡思考、重视生活质量而非寿命，与独立决策偏好有很强的关联。那些担心给照顾者带来负担的人希望做出独立的决策。既执行生前遗嘱又指定医疗保健持久授权书的人更喜欢独立决策。
老年人将个人和亲和信念，而不是缺乏自主性，作为他们选择独立决策或委托的原因。
