Nursing Home Resident Participation in Medical Decisions: Perceptions and Preferences1

Abstract

In nine facilities, 198 nursing home residents and their 34 primary nurse caregivers were interviewed regarding perceptions and preferences of resident participation in health care decisions. Approximately 40% of residents reported being told everything about their medical conditions, whereas another 40% reported being told nothing. About two-thirds believed the information received was adequate and one-third believed it to be inadequate. Concordance between residents' and nurses' perceptions was low. Nurses overestimated the amount and adequacy of information residents received.