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A video depicting resuscitation did not impact upon patients' decision-making
Caitlin Richardson-Royer1, Imran Naqvi1, Christopher Riffel1
1The Jewish Hospital of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Background:
Previous studies have demonstrated that video of and scripted information about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be deployed during clinician-patient end-of-life discussions. Few studies, however, examine whether video adds to verbal information-sharing. We hypothesized that video augments script-only decision-making.
Methods:
Patients aged >65 years admitted to hospital wards were randomized to receive evidence-based information ("script") vs. script plus video of simulated CPR and intubation. Patients' decisions registered in the hospital record, by hospital discharge were compared for the two groups.
Results:
Fifty script-only intervention patients averaging 77.7 years were compared to 50 script+video patients with a mean age of 74.7 years. Eleven of 50 (22%) in each group declined CPR; and an additional three (script) vs. four (script+video) refused intubation for respiratory failure. There were no differences in sex, self-reported health trajectory, functional limitations, length of stay, or mortality associated with decisions.
Conclusion:
The rate at which verbally informed hospitalized elders opted out of resuscitation was not impacted by adding a video depiction of CPR.