Competence of Long-Term Care Residence to Participate in Decisions About Their Medical Care: A Brief, Objective Assessment

Authors

Rachel A. Pruchno
Michael A. Smyer, Bucknell UniversityFollow
Miriam S. Rose
Paula E. Hartman-Stein
Donna L. Henderson-Laribee

Publication Date

1995

Description

Data from 50 residents of a long-term care facility were used to examine the extent to which performance on a brief, objective inventory could predict a clinical psychologist's evaluation of competence to participate in decisions about medical care. Results indicate that the competence to participate in medical decisions of two-thirds of the residents could be accurately assessed using scores on a mental status instrument and two vignette-based measures of medical decision-making. These procedures could enable nursing home staff to objectively assess the competence of residents to participate in important decisions about their medical care.

Journal

The Gerontologist

Volume

35

Issue

5

First Page

622

Last Page

629

Department

Psychology

Link to Published Version

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8543219

Recommended Citation

Pruchno, Rachel A.; Smyer, Michael A.; Rose, Miriam S.; Hartman-Stein, Paula E.; and Henderson-Laribee, Donna L.. "Competence of Long-Term Care Residence to Participate in Decisions About Their Medical Care: A Brief, Objective Assessment." The Gerontologist (1995) : 622-629.