Use of video to facilitate end-of-life discussions with patients with cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To determine whether the use of a goals-of-care video to supplement a verbal description can improve end-of-life decision making for patients with cancer.

Methods

Fifty participants with malignant glioma were randomly assigned to either a verbal narrative of goals-of-care options at the end of life (control), or a video after the same verbal narrative (intervention) in this randomized controlled trial. The video depicts three levels of medical care: life-prolonging care (cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR], ventilation), basic care (hospitalization, no CPR), and comfort care (symptom relief). The primary study outcome was participants' preferences for end-of-life care. The secondary outcome was participants' uncertainty regarding decision making (score range, 3 to 15

SUBMITTER: El-Jawahri A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3040012 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature