Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
14:32
Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Honoring patient care preferences: surrogates speak.
1School of Social Work, University of Central Florida, Orlando 32816, USA. Julia.Buckey@ucf.edu
Omega
|November 3, 2012
Summary
Surrogate decision-making for incapacitated patients is stressful. Findings highlight the emotional toll, the importance of advance directives like Living Wills, and spirituality as coping mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Medical Ethics
- Palliative Care
- Health Psychology
Background:
- Surrogate decision-making for incapacitated patients presents significant emotional challenges.
- Previous research indicates the stressful nature of these end-of-life care decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the lived experiences of surrogates immediately after making life-sustaining treatment decisions.
- To identify key themes and coping strategies employed by surrogates.
Main Methods:
- Grounded theory analysis was applied to qualitative data from 59 surrogates.
- Participants shared their experiences following a critical treatment decision.
Main Results:
- Four emergent themes: emotional impact, witnessing patient decline, value of advance directives (Living Will), and reliance on spirituality.
- Surrogates experience profound emotional distress and find comfort in spiritual beliefs and documented patient wishes.
Conclusions:
- Early engagement with surrogates upon patient admission is crucial for clarifying patient preferences.
- Strengthening communication between surrogates and healthcare teams can improve the decision-making process and support surrogates.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Ethical Issues
Nurses are essential in patient care, upholding the ethical principles of their profession and effectively navigating ethical dilemmas. Neglecting ethical issues can lead to inadequate patient care, compromised therapeutic relationships, and moral distress among healthcare workers.
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
01:13Patient-centered Care
Patient-centered care involves delivering care beyond inpatient hospitalization. Reflective practice can enhance a patient-centered approach. Reflective practice is a process of reasoning that considers all aspects of the present situation, including practicalities, learning from personal practice, and consideration of patient needs. Patients appreciate care decisions made while considering their input. Involving the patient in their care provides the patient with a sense of contribution rather...
01:27Nursing Ethical Principles II
Ethical principles are essential in guiding nurses to fulfill their responsibilities, focusing on the quality of nursing care and decision-making. These principles, including autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, and fidelity, shape the ethical framework within healthcare settings.
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's cancer...
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's cancer...
01:19Standards of Care II
Nurses bear specific legal responsibilities under several federal statutes, including:
01:30Ethical Dilemmas II
Resolving an ethical dilemma in healthcare involves a systematic approach that considers every aspect of the issue, respecting both the patient's needs and values and the healthcare professional's ethical obligations. Here are potential steps to resolve an ethical dilemma:
01:22Standards of Care I
Federal statutes profoundly impact nursing practice, providing critical guidelines to ensure patient care is equitable, accessible, and of the highest quality. The following laws address distinct aspects of healthcare provision and patient rights: