STABILITY OF PREFERENCES FOR TREATMENT AMONG NURSING-HOME RESIDENTS

This study assessed the stability of nursing home residents' preferenc es for medical treatments. Thirty-seven nondemented, nondepressed resi dents were surveyed serially over a six-month period. Preferences were elicited for CPR, IV antibiotics, mechanical ventilation, and artific ial nutrition. Subjects preferred more treatment for their current hea lth concerns than for all hypothetical conditions (p =.001). Subjects disvalued indefinite artificial nutrition and mechanical ventilation c ompared to time-limited trials (p <.001). All preference changes were toward less intervention; residents preferred limited treatment. Most preferences remained stable. Residents clearly distinguished between t ime-limited and indefinite treatment, desired IV antibiotics and limit ed mechanical ventilation, and rejected most other treatments.