NCT01723436

Effects of Repeated Decision Making Among Surrogates of Seriously Ill Patients

Pilot Study of Repeated Decision Making in Surrogates

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 132 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Decision making capacity fatigues after repeated decisions similar to skeletal muscle. The result is decision fatigue, in which subsequent decisions are altered toward the status quo. Surrogates are at risk for decision fatigue yet it has not been studied. We propose a randomized study in the outpatient setting in surrogates and patients at high risk for needing to make complex decisions, in an effort to determine the impact of decision fatigue on surrogate self-control and subsequent choices.

Detailed description

Just as skeletal muscle fatigues after repeated use, decision-making capacity fatigues when repeated choices are made. This phenomenon, in which people experience diminished concentration and willpower after repeated decision-making, is termed decision fatigue. People experiencing decision fatigue are more likely to bias subsequent choices toward the status quo. By choosing the status quo, the decision-maker reserves the option to make an alternate choice at a later time, thereby preserving possibilities. Patients and their surrogates often make complex medical decisions for which they may have little experience. Although clearly at high risk, decision fatigue has not been studied in this population. To elucidate these questions, we propose a four-arm study of surrogates and patients in a population at high risk for making complex decisions. Surrogates will be randomly assigned to varied levels of decision making effort to assess for the development of resultant decision fatigue and whether it alters subsequent decisions.

Conditions

• Chemotherapy

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Hypothetical scenarios and related decisions	Surrogates are exposed to three hypothetical medical scenarios that require varying levels of decision making. We will be assessing how this experience alters their subsequent choice to forego life sustaining therapy.

Timeline

• Start date: 2012-11-01
• Primary completion: 2013-04-01
• Completion: 2013-04-01
• First posted: 2012-11-07
• Last updated: 2015-01-29

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States