PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Astrow, A B
AU  - Sood, J R
AU  - Nolan, M T
AU  - Terry, P B
AU  - Clawson, L
AU  - Kub, J
AU  - Hughes, M
AU  - Sulmasy, D P
TI  - Decision-making in patients with advanced cancer compared with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
AID  - 10.1136/jme.2007.022731
DP  - 2008 Sep 01
TA  - Journal of Medical Ethics
PG  - 664--668
VI  - 34
IP  - 9
4099  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/34/9/664.short
4100  - http://jme.bmj.com/content/34/9/664.full
SO  - J Med Ethics2008 Sep 01; 34
AB  - Aim: Patients with advanced cancer need information about end-of-life treatment options in order to make informed decisions. Clinicians vary in the frequency with which they initiate these discussions.Patients and methods: As part of a long-term longitudinal study, patients with an expected 2-year survival of less than 50% who had advanced gastrointestinal or lung cancer or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were interviewed. Each patient’s medical record was reviewed at enrollment and at 3 months for evidence of the discussion of patient wishes concerning ventilator support, artificial nutrition and hydration (ANH), resuscitation (DNR) and hospice care. A Kaplan–Meier analysis was also performed and 2-year survival calculated.Results: 60 cancer and 32 ALS patients were enrolled. ALS patients were more likely than cancer patients to have evidence of discussion about their wishes for ventilator support (31% vs 0%, p<0.001), ANH (38% vs 0%, p<0.001), DNR (25% vs 0%, p<0.001) and hospice care (22% vs 5%, p = 0.03). At 6 months, 91% of ALS patients were alive compared with 62% of cancer patients; at 2 years, 63% of ALS patients were alive compared with 23% of cancer patients (p<0.001).Conclusions: Cancer patients were less likely than ALS patients to have had documented advanced care planning discussions despite worse survival. This may reflect perceptions that ALS has a more predictable course, that advanced cancer has a greater number of treatment options, or differing views about hope. Nevertheless, cancer patients may be less adequately prepared for end-of-life decision-making.