Table 1. Participant Characteristics.
| Variable | Patients (n=23) | Surrogates (n=23) |
|---|---|---|
| Female, n (%) | 11 (48) | 14 (61) |
|
| ||
| Age (years), mean (SD) | 63 (15) | 55 (12) |
|
| ||
| Race/ethnicity, n (%) | ||
| Non-Hispanic White | 23 (100) | 23 (100) |
|
| ||
| Religious Preference, n (%) | ||
| Protestant Christian | 6 (26) | 9 (39) |
| Roman Catholic | 9 (39) | 7 (30) |
| Other Christian | 7 (30) | 5 (22) |
| Jewish | 0 () | 0 () |
| Agnostic/Atheist/No religion | 2 (9) | (0) |
| Other | 3 (13) | 3 (13) |
|
| ||
| Relationship to patient, n (%) | ||
| Spouse/partner | 7 (30) | |
| Child/Step-child | 7 (30) | |
| Sibling | 5 (22) | |
| Parent | 3 (13) | |
| Other | 1 (4) | |
|
| ||
| Subject named in EMR progress notes as decision maker | ||
| Named* as primary decision maker | 5 (22) | |
| Named* as one of 2 or more decision makers | 4 (17) | |
| No one specific named; notes reference “the family” | 11 (48) | |
| No documentation of decision making process | 3 (13) | |
|
| ||
| Importance of Religion or Spiritual Beliefs | ||
| Not at all important | 1 (4) | |
| Not too important | 2 (9) | |
| Fairly Important | 6 (26) | |
| Very Important | 14 (61) | |
|
| ||
| Highest Level of Education | ||
| Graduate of Professional Degree | 5 (22) | |
| Completed college | 8 (35) | |
| Some college | 9 (39) | |
| High School diploma or GED | 1 (4) | |
|
| ||
| Total Household Income | ||
| Less than $20,000 | 2 (9) | |
| $20,000-$39,999 | 4 (17) | |
| $40,000-$59,999 | 4 (17) | |
| $60,000-$79,999 | 4 (17) | |
| $80,000-$99,999 | 2 (9) | |
| More than $100,000 | 3 (13) | |
| Decline to answer | 5 (22) | |
|
| ||
| ICU Admission | ||
| APACHE III Score, mean (SD) | 79 (32) | |
| Length of Stay (days), mean (SD) | 13 (9.7) | |
EMR – electronic medical record
APACHE III – Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation – 3rd Edition
*
named by name or by relationship (e.g, “mother”)