Table 2.
Characteristics of Subjects
| Variable | Value |
|---|---|
| Surrogates (n=252)* | |
|
| |
| Age, mean (SD) | 50 (12) |
|
| |
| Female, n (%) | 160 (63.5) |
|
| |
| Race, n (%) | |
| White | 191 (75.8) |
| Black | 28 (11.1) |
| Asian | 23 (9.1) |
| American Indian | 1 (0.4) |
| Declined to state | 9 (3.6) |
|
| |
| College education or higher | 204 (81.0) |
|
| |
| Trust in medical profession, mean (SD)† | 14.5 (3.8) |
|
| |
| Prior experience with a relative in the ICU | 204 (81.0) |
| Prior experience with a relative dying in the ICU | 84 (33.3) |
|
| |
| Believe in God/spirit, n (%) | 194 (77.0) |
|
| |
| Relationship | |
| Daughter | 125 (48.8) |
| Son | 54 (21.1) |
| Wife | 39 (15.2) |
| Husband | 38 (14.8) |
|
| |
| Relative for whom they made decision (n=256)* | |
|
| |
| Age, mean (SD), y | 69 (12) |
|
| |
| Relationship, n(%) | |
| Mother | 117 (45.7) |
| Father | 62 (24.2) |
| Wife | 37 (14.5) |
| Husband | 40 (15.6) |
|
| |
| Health status, n (%) | |
| Excellent | 23 (9.0) |
| Very good | 57 (22.3) |
| Good | 77 (30.1) |
| Fair | 70 (27.3) |
| Poor | 29 (11.3) |
|
| |
| Hospitalized in last year, n (%) | 94 (36.7) |
*
We obtained information about the relative at the start of the survey but obtained information about the surrogate at the end of the survey (4 surrogates started, but did not complete, the survey).
†
Range 5-25, with higher scores indicating greater trust.