Table 1 Characteristics of patients and substitute decision-makers (n = 45)
Patients | |||
Mean age (years) | 84.1 ± 8.3 | ||
Female | 24 | 53.3% | |
Diagnosis | Aspiration pneumonia | 17 | |
Dementia | 11 | ||
Cerebral infarction | 11 | ||
Parkinson disease | 2 | ||
Depression | 2 | ||
Pneumonia | 2 | ||
Intractable neurological diseases | 2 | ||
Cancer | 1 | ||
Other disease | 13 | ||
(multiple answers allowed) | |||
Setting | Acute care hospital | 16 | 35.6% |
Long-term care hospital | 8 | 17.8% | |
Mixed care hospital | 10 | 22.2% | |
Nursing home | 8 | 17.7% | |
Patients’ home | 3 | 6.7% | |
Physical activity | Bed-bound (cannot toss and turn) | 24 | 53.3% |
Bed-bound (can toss and turn) | 10 | 22.2% | |
Primarily use a wheelchair | 4 | 8.9% | |
Ambulant | 4 | 8.9% | |
Other level | 3 | 6.7% | |
Communicative ability | Can easily communicate | 7 | 15.6% |
Cannot sometimes communicate | 22 | 48.9% | |
Cannot communicate at all | 16 | 35.6% | |
Ability to convey wishes about PEG placement | Able to convey own wishes | 12 | 26.7% |
Unable to convey own wishes | 28 | 62.2% | |
Neither | 5 | 11.1% | |
Wishes regarding PEG placement | Place PEG | 7/12 | 58.3% |
Withhold PEG | 5/12 | 41.7% | |
Substitute decision-makers | |||
Mean age (years) | 62.1 ± 10.5 | ||
Male | 25 | 55.6% | |
Relationship to the patient | Child | 24 | 53.3% |
Spouse | 11 | 24.4% | |
Son/daughter-in-law | 5 | 11.1% | |
Nephew/niece | 1 | 2.2% | |
Brother/sister-in-law | 1 | 2.2% | |
Other relative | 3 | 6.7% | |
How decision aid was obtained | Website | 44 | 97.8% |
Medical staff | 1 | 2.2% | |
Read the contents of the decision aid | All | 43 | 95.6% |
Some | 1 | 2.2% | |
None | 1 | 2.2% | |
Consulted with | Physician in charge of the patient | 11 | |
Care manager | 6 | ||
Nurse | 5 | ||
Physician not in charge of the patient | 2 | ||
Social worker | 1 | ||
Nobody (multiple answers allowed) | 23 | ||
Decision in accordance with the patient’s wishes | PEG placed | 7/7 | 100% |
PEG withheld | 5/5 | 100% | |