Patients in a persistent vegetative state attitudes and reactions of family members. J Am Geriatr Soc 1991 Jan;39(1):17-21
Date
01/11/1991Pubmed ID
1987252DOI
10.1111/j.1532-5415.1991.tb05900.xScopus ID
2-s2.0-0026074850 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 58 CitationsAbstract
Patients in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) constituted approximately 3% of the population in four Milwaukee nursing homes. In order to understand family members' attitudes and reactions toward such patients, 33 (92%) of 36 family members of patients in PVS contacted were studied. The age of the patients ranged from 19 to 95 with a mean age of 73.4 +/- 17.2 years, and family members' ages ranged from 41 to 89 with a mean age of 61.8 +/- 3.3 years. The etiology of the PVS varied from dementia to cerebral trauma. The mean duration of the PVS was 54 +/- 8.4 months (range 12 to 204). Family members reported that they visited patients 260 times during the first year following the onset of the PVS and were still visiting at a rate of 209 visits yearly at the time of the interview. There was no significant correlation between the frequency of the family members visits and the duration of the PVS, the patient's or family member's age, or the family member's relationship to the patient. Ninety percent of patients were considered by family members to have some awareness of pain, light or darkness, environment, taste, verbal conversation, or the family member's presence. Most family members thought they understood the patient's medical condition, and the majority did not expect the patient to improve. Nevertheless, the majority of family members wanted the patient to undergo therapeutic interventions, including transfer to the acute hospital and surgery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Author List
Tresch DD, Sims FH, Duthie EH Jr, Goldstein MDAuthor
Edmund H. Duthie MD Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Activities of Daily LivingAdaptation, Psychological
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Anger
Attitude to Health
Awareness
Coma
Comprehension
Consumer Behavior
Decision Making
Family
Female
Homes for the Aged
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Nursing Homes
Quality of Health Care
Surveys and Questionnaires
Wisconsin
Withholding Treatment
