How defaults increased comfort-oriented end-of-life care by 16%

Intervention · Healthcare

Abstract

When confronted by a decision that has a default option, unless we have strong preferences on the matter, we will probably take the path of least effort and go with the default. Strong preferences form when we are able to observe the outcome of a decision and adjust our preferences accordingly. This trial and error process may not matter for menial decisions, but what about significant once in a lifetime decisions? 

In this study, researchers wanted to find out how default options influence terminally ill patients’ end-of-life care decisions. Seriously ill patients were given one of three advance directives to complete. One had comfort-oriented care as the default, the other had life-extending care as the default, and the third did not have a default selected. The results show that seriously ill patients’ decisions on end-of-life interventions are heavily influenced by default options.

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Sources

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