Display options
Cite
Moorman SM, Hauser RM, Carr D. Do Older Adults Know Their Spouses' End-of-Life Treatment Preferences?. Res Aging. 2009;31(4):463-491doi: 10.1177/0164027509333683.
Moorman, S. M., Hauser, R. M., & Carr, D. (2009). Do Older Adults Know Their Spouses' End-of-Life Treatment Preferences?. Research on aging, 31(4), 463-491. https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027509333683
Moorman, Sara M, et al. "Do Older Adults Know Their Spouses' End-of-Life Treatment Preferences?." Research on aging vol. 31,4 (2009): 463-491. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/0164027509333683
Moorman SM, Hauser RM, Carr D. Do Older Adults Know Their Spouses' End-of-Life Treatment Preferences?. Res Aging. 2009;31(4):463-491. doi: 10.1177/0164027509333683. PMID: 20046978; PMCID: PMC2699181.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Res Aging. 2009;31(4):463-491. doi: 10.1177/0164027509333683.

Do Older Adults Know Their Spouses' End-of-Life Treatment Preferences?.

Research on aging

Sara M Moorman, Robert M Hauser, Deborah Carr

PMID: 20046978 PMCID: PMC2699181 DOI: 10.1177/0164027509333683

Abstract

When terminally ill patients become mentally incapacitated, the patient's surrogate often makes treatment decisions in collaboration with health care providers. We examine how surrogates' errors in reporting their spouse's preferences are affected by their gender, status as durable power of attorney for health care (DPAHC), whether the surrogate and spouse held discussions about end-of-life preferences, and the spouse's health status. We apply structural equation models to data from 2,750 married couples in their mid 60s who participated in the 2004 wave of the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study. Surrogates reported their spouse's preferences incorrectly 13 and 26 percent of the time in end-of-life scenarios involving cognitive impairment and physical pain, respectively. Surrogates projected their own preferences onto the spouse. Similar patterns emerged regardless of surrogate gender, surrogate status as DPAHC, marital discussions about end-of-life, or spousal health status. We discuss implications for the process of surrogate decision-making and for future research.

References

  1. J Pers. 2004 Dec;72(6):1395-424 - PubMed
  2. Ann Intern Med. 1998 Apr 15;128(8):621-9 - PubMed
  3. Gerontologist. 2008 Dec;48(6):811-9 - PubMed
  4. Image J Nurs Sch. 1995 Summer;27(2):135-40 - PubMed
  5. BMJ. 2003 Jul 26;327(7408):222 - PubMed
  6. Med Decis Making. 2007 May-Jun;27(3):299-310 - PubMed
  7. Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2006 Aug-Sep;23(4):277-86 - PubMed
  8. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2002 Apr;82(4):503-14 - PubMed
  9. Health Psychol. 2001 May;20(3):166-75 - PubMed
  10. Med Care. 2005 Oct;43(10):1049-53 - PubMed
  11. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2006 Nov;54(11):1688-93 - PubMed
  12. Med Decis Making. 2006 Mar-Apr;26(2):112-21 - PubMed
  13. Arch Intern Med. 1994 Jan 10;154(1):90-6 - PubMed
  14. P R Health Sci J. 1999 Dec;18(4):405-9 - PubMed
  15. Aging Trends. 2005 Oct;(6):1-12 - PubMed
  16. Psychol Bull. 1955 May;52(3):177-93 - PubMed
  17. Soc Sci Med. 1999 May;48(10):1363-72 - PubMed
  18. Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 1997;1(4):299-313 - PubMed
  19. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2003 Feb;84(2):439-48 - PubMed
  20. J Health Soc Behav. 2007 Jun;48(2):180-94 - PubMed
  21. Death Stud. 2001 Mar;25(2):127-49 - PubMed
  22. Psychol Bull. 1968 Apr;69(4):248-268 - PubMed
  23. Med Decis Making. 2006 Jul-Aug;26(4):313-22 - PubMed
  24. Med Decis Making. 2005 Jan-Feb;25(1):96-105 - PubMed
  25. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2007 Mar;62(2):S135-41 - PubMed
  26. Soc Sci Med. 2005 Apr;60(7):1459-65 - PubMed
  27. JAMA. 1979 Mar 2;241(9):897-900 - PubMed
  28. Ann Intern Med. 1991 Jul 15;115(2):92-8 - PubMed
  29. J Clin Ethics. 1999 Winter;10(4):286-93 - PubMed
  30. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2008 Jul;63(4):P219-P226 - PubMed
  31. Arch Intern Med. 1995 May 22;155(10):1025-30 - PubMed
  32. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1994 Oct;67(4):596-610 - PubMed
  33. Health Psychol. 2003 Nov;22(6):605-15 - PubMed
  34. JAMA. 1961 Apr 1;175:1120-8 - PubMed
  35. J Clin Ethics. 1994 Fall;5(3):195-203 - PubMed
  36. Gerontologist. 2000 Aug;40(4):449-57 - PubMed
  37. Ann Intern Med. 2005 Apr 5;142(7):560-82 - PubMed
  38. Gerontologist. 2005 Dec;45(6):812-9 - PubMed
  39. Gerontologist. 2005 Feb;45(1):107-17 - PubMed
  40. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2001 Mar;80(3):439-48 - PubMed
  41. Death Stud. 2008;32(3):273-90 - PubMed
  42. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2000 May;48(S1):S187-93 - PubMed
  43. Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2003 Sep;29(9):1159-68 - PubMed
  44. J Exp Psychol Appl. 2005 Mar;11(1):53-60 - PubMed
  45. Arch Intern Med. 2001 Feb 12;161(3):421-30 - PubMed
  46. J Clin Oncol. 2005 Mar 20;23(9):2012-9 - PubMed
  47. J Gen Intern Med. 2007 Apr;22(4):495-501 - PubMed
  48. Arch Intern Med. 2006 Mar 13;166(5):493-7 - PubMed

Publication Types

Grant support