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Prospective end-of-life treatment decisions and perceived vulnerability: future time left to live and memory self-efficacy
- Authors:
- ALLEN Jessica Y., HILGEMAN Michelle M., ALLEN Rebecca S.
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 15(1), January 2011, pp.122-131.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Existing research on perceptions related to future functioning that influence health-related decisions is limited. This study examined the extent to which two factors of perceived future vulnerability were associated with individual differences in the desire for life-sustaining treatment among older adults. Perceived time left to live and memory self-efficacy were assessed among 77 older adults indicating preferences for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, and artificial feeding and fluids in hypothetical illness scenarios. Findings revealed that participants with a more expansive perspective of time, less perceived change in memory, greater perceived memory capacity, and greater depressive symptomatology had greater overall desire for treatment. The authors concluded that differences in perceived time left to live and memory beliefs affect treatment desires in ways that may not be recognised by families or doctors. Identifying perceptions associated with end-of-life treatment preferences may improve interventions that facilitate quality care through patient autonomy.