A Multicenter Study of the Causes and Consequences of Optimistic Expectations About Prognosis by Surrogate Decision-Makers in ICUs.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Optimistic expectations about prognosis by surrogate decision-makers in ICUs are common, but there are few data about the causes and clinical consequences. Our objective was to determine the causes of optimistic expectations about prognosis among surrogates and whether it is associated with more use of life support at the end of life.

Design

Prospective, multicenter cohort study from 2009 to 2012.

Setting

Twelve ICUs from multiple regions of the United States.

Subjects

The surrogates and physicians of 275 incapacitated ICU patients at high risk of death.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and main results

Surrogates and physicians completed a validated instrument assessing their prognostic expectations for hospital survival. We determined

SUBMITTER: White DB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6697218 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature