Effects of Frequent Decision Making Among Patients With Serious Illnesses
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Cancer |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Oncology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - Any |
| Updated: | 4/2/2016 |
| Start Date: | November 2012 |
| End Date: | November 2013 |
| Contact: | Mary McKenzie, MD |
| Email: | mary.mckenzie@uphs.upenn.edu |
| Phone: | 215.573.9461 |
Pilot Study of Repeated Decision Making in Patients
Decision making capacity fatigues after repeated decisions similar to skeletal muscle. The
result is decision fatigue, in which subsequent decisions are altered toward the status quo.
Patients are at risk for decision fatigue yet it has not been studied. The Investigator
proposes a randomized study in the outpatient setting in patients at high risk for needing
to make complex decisions, in an effort to determine the impact of decision fatigue on
participant self-control and subsequent choices.
result is decision fatigue, in which subsequent decisions are altered toward the status quo.
Patients are at risk for decision fatigue yet it has not been studied. The Investigator
proposes a randomized study in the outpatient setting in patients at high risk for needing
to make complex decisions, in an effort to determine the impact of decision fatigue on
participant self-control and subsequent choices.
Just as skeletal muscle fatigues after repeated use, decision-making capacity fatigues when
repeated choices are made. This phenomenon, in which people experience diminished
concentration and willpower after repeated decision-making, is termed decision fatigue. (1)
People experiencing decision fatigue are more likely to bias subsequent choices toward the
status quo. By choosing the status quo, the decision-maker reserves the option to make an
alternate choice at a later time, thereby preserving possibilities. Patients and their
surrogates often make complex medical decisions for which they may have little experience.
Although clearly at high risk, decision fatigue has not been studied this population. To
elucidate these questions, we propose a four arm study of patients in a population at high
risk for making complex decisions. Participants will be randomly assigned to varied levels
of decision making effort to assess for the development of resultant decision fatigue and
whether it alters subsequent decisions.
repeated choices are made. This phenomenon, in which people experience diminished
concentration and willpower after repeated decision-making, is termed decision fatigue. (1)
People experiencing decision fatigue are more likely to bias subsequent choices toward the
status quo. By choosing the status quo, the decision-maker reserves the option to make an
alternate choice at a later time, thereby preserving possibilities. Patients and their
surrogates often make complex medical decisions for which they may have little experience.
Although clearly at high risk, decision fatigue has not been studied this population. To
elucidate these questions, we propose a four arm study of patients in a population at high
risk for making complex decisions. Participants will be randomly assigned to varied levels
of decision making effort to assess for the development of resultant decision fatigue and
whether it alters subsequent decisions.
Inclusion Criteria:
- aplastic anemia, multiple myeloma, myelodysplastic syndrome, acute myeloid leukemia,
stage IIIB or IV lung cancer, mesothelioma and/or stage IIIB or IV gastrointestinal
cancer (pancreatic, biliary, esophageal, gastric, hepatocellular, colon), stage IV
melanoma
- All participants must be over the age 18
- All participants must be fluent in English
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any medical condition known to alter Stroop performance; i.e. significant visual
impairment, blind or colorblind, sedating medications during appointment, history of
cerebrovascular accident, transient ischemic attack (TIA), seizure disorder, dementia
or traumatic head injury with loss of consciousness
- Patients will also be ineligible if they are illiterate
- Patients will be ineligible if they have either tracheostomy or are currently on
hemodialysis as these would significantly alter responses to the hypothetical medical
scenarios/decisions
We found this trial at
1
site
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
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