Conflict occurrence and influencing factors among surrogate decision makers for RICU patients with mechanical ventilation

To survey conflict occurrence in surrogate decision makers for respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) patients with mechanical ventilation and explore its influencing factors.

A total of 101 surrogate decision-makers of mechanical ventilation patients in RICU were subjected from the Second Affiliated Hospital of Army Medical University from June 2024 to December 2024 by convenience sampling. General data questionnaire, Preparation for Decision Making Scale and Decisional Conflict Scale were used to conduct questionnaire survey. One-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were employed to identify the influencing factors.

The total score of decision readiness was 64.14±22.35, the total score of decision conflict was 35.18±26.47, and the incidence of decision conflict was 69.31% in the participants. Univariate analysis showed that there were statistically differences in whether knowing about prognosis, relationship with patients, awareness of patients’ ideas about treatment, and understanding of information related to mechanical ventilation among the participants (P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis indicated that decision readiness was negatively correlated with decision conflict and its 3 dimensions (P<0.001). The results of multiple linear regression analysis revealed that understanding of information related to mechanical ventilation and decision readiness were influencing factors for the decision conflict of the participants (P<0.001).

The decision conflict level is quite higher in the surrogate decision makers for RICU patients with mechanical ventilation, and the level is negatively correlated with the understanding of mechanical ventilation related information and decision readiness.