Advance Care Planning: Preferences for Care at the End of Life

Figure 6. Percent of Sampled Adults Who Would Want Selected Treatments

Figure 6. Percent of Sampled Adults Who Would Want Selected Treatments if in Hypothetical Health States^a (Text Description)

Percent of sampled adults who would want antibiotics if in current health: 95.
Percent of sampled adults who would want hemodialysis if in current health: 75.
Percent of sampled adults who would want artificial nutrition/hydration if in current health: 59.

Percent of sampled adults who would want antibiotics if in permanent coma: 38.
Percent of sampled adults who would want hemodialysis if in permanent coma: 14.
Percent of sampled adults who would want artificial nutrition/hydration if in permanent coma: 14.

Percent of sampled adults who would want antibiotics if in a state of dementia: 80.
Percent of sampled adults who would want hemodialysis if in a state of dementia: 44.
Percent of sampled adults who would want artificial nutrition/hydration if in a state of dementia: 36.

Percent of sampled adults who would want antibiotics if in a state of severe stroke: 72.
Percent of sampled adults who would want hemodialysis if in a state of severe stroke: 37.
Percent of sampled adults who would want artificial nutrition/hydration if in a state of severe stroke: 33.

Percent of sampled adults who would want antibiotics if in severe pain: 61.
Percent of sampled adults who would want hemodialysis if in severe pain: 42.
Percent of sampled adults who would want artificial nutrition/hydration if in severe pain: 33.

^aSample included 50 well adults ages 21-65 years, 49 well adults older than 65, 49 older adults with chronic illness, 48 adults with terminal cancer, 50 adults with AIDS, 45 stroke survivors, and 50 nursing home residents.
Source: Patrick DL, Pearlman RA, Starks HE, et al. Validation of preferences for life-sustaining treatment: implications for advance care planning. Ann Intern Med 1997;127(7):509-17.

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