Factors influencing life-sustaining treatment decisions in a community sample of families.

A survey of an intergenerational community sample was undertaken to examine the importance attributed to 9 factors when considering a hypothetical life-sustaining treatment decision for oneself or for a parent. The sample consisted of 1,205 respondents ranging in age from 24 to 93. On average, factors rated as most important were mental capacity and pain, and factors rated as least important were burden of care on the family, financial strain, and the individual's age. However, the oldest generation tended to rate the latter three factors as more important to consider than did the youngest generation. There was not significant correspondence between adult children's ratings regarding a decision for a parent and their own parents' ratings regarding decisions for themselves.