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Abstract
Background
Previous studies have demonstrated that video of and scripted information about cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can be deployed during clinician–patient end-of-life discussions. Few studies, however, examine whether video adds to verbal information-sharing. We hypothesized that video augments script-only decision-making.
Methods
Patients aged >65 years admitted to hospital wards were randomized to receive evidence-based information (“script”) vs. script plus video of simulated CPR and intubation. Patients’ decisions registered in the hospital record, by hospital discharge were compared for the two groups.
Results
Fifty script-only intervention patients averaging 77.7 years were compared to 50 script+video patients with a mean age of 74.7 years. Eleven of 50 (22%) in each group declined CPR; and an additional three (script) vs. four (script+video) refused intubation for respiratory failure. There were no differences in sex, self-reported health trajectory, functional limitations, length of stay, or mortality associated with decisions.
Conclusion
The rate at which verbally informed hospitalized elders opted out of resuscitation was not impacted by adding a video depiction of CPR.
Supplementary material
Figure S1 Scripted intervention.
Note: Scripted intervention delivered to intervention groups in both pilot and final study. This script was analyzed using a web-based readability tool which indicates it is at between the 7th and 8th grade levels by the Coleman Liau and Automated Readability Indices.
Abbreviation: CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.