Influences on the Health-care Decisions of Older Adults: An Ecological Perspective

• In Event: Hospice and end-of-life decision-making

Abstract

To further understanding of communicative influences on the health care decision-making processes for older adults, this study utilized interview/survey methods to gather information regarding the influence of various communication contexts, as guided by an ecological perspective. Personal decision-making networks were developed that illustrated communication properties of interest. Personal social network analysis revealed that networks fall along a continuum of influence ranging from dominance of organizational influence to dominance of interpersonal influence.

Author

• Jennifer Ohs, St. Louis University