Journal article
Prospect Theory Concepts Applied to Family Members of Nursing Home Residents with Cancer: A Good Ending Is a Gain
Journal of social work in end-of-life & palliative care, Vol.15(1), pp.34-54
01/02/2019
DOI: 10.1080/15524256.2019.1580242
PMID: 30892139
Abstract
Family members are often involved in medical decision-making on behalf of a nursing home resident. Prospect theory provides a framework for understanding how people weigh decisions. In the current study, prospect theory concepts are used to build understanding about how family members weigh medical decisions for an NH resident diagnosed with cancer. This is a secondary analysis of qualitative interview data from 24 family members of nursing home residents. Prospect theory concepts of gain, loss, risk, and reference point were used deductively in qualitative content analysis. Themes were developed by comparing content related to these four concepts, across the transcripts from the 24 participants. Three themes comprise the main findings, including "Don't prolong this," "A good ending is a gain," and "Experience can facilitate seeing the big picture." Prospect theory concepts applied to decisions faced by family members were useful in building an understanding of what participants considered as gains, losses, risks, and reference points. Many participants framed the medical decisions within the larger context of the resident's life and concluded that jeopardizing the chance for a peaceful dying process was too high a risk. Medical interventions were selected or avoided because of the impact on a comfortable dying process; considered a gain. Advance care planning discussions and goals of care discussions can benefit by directly addressing what residents/patients, families, and health practitioners consider outcomes worth pursuing and avoiding.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Prospect Theory Concepts Applied to Family Members of Nursing Home Residents with Cancer: A Good Ending Is a Gain
- Creators
- Mercedes Bern-Klug - University of IowaJaswinder Singh - Mercy Medical CenterJinyu Liu - Columbia UniversityLaura Shinkunas - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of social work in end-of-life & palliative care, Vol.15(1), pp.34-54
- Publisher
- Routledge
- DOI
- 10.1080/15524256.2019.1580242
- PMID
- 30892139
- ISSN
- 1552-4256
- eISSN
- 1552-4264
- Grant note
- John and Elsie Mae Ferentz Research Fund University of Iowa Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 01/02/2019
- Academic Unit
- Medical Ethics; International Programs; School of Social Work
- Record Identifier
- 9984307153502771
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