Focus Groups to Determine Surrogates Views Regarding Patient Preference Predictors

Background: Some people cannot make medical treatment decisions on their own. The people who make decisions on their behalf are called medical surrogates. Sometimes surrogates cannot predict which treatment course the person or their loved ones would have chosen. The surrogates often become distressed because of making these decisions. Researchers think a tool called a Patient Preference Predictor (PPP) may be able to make the process easier. The PPP would predict what treatment the person would want. This is based on treatment preferences of similar people in a similar circumstance. Researchers want to interview surrogates to explore their views on the PPP. Objective: To explore surrogates views on incorporating a PPP into shared medical decision-making. Eligibility: People 18 years or older who: Have acted as a surrogate medical decision-maker within the past 3 years. This includes decisions about treatment, medication, hospice care, hospital admission, or discharge. Are not pregnant Design: Participants will be screened by meeting with clinicians in person or by phone to discuss the study. Participants will take part in a focus group. This is a small group of people discussing their thoughts and opinions. This will last for about 2 hours. Participants will be served a light meal. Participants will provide information about themselves and their views. They will talk about their past experiences making medical decisions for someone. They will discuss how they felt about these decisions. The PPP will be explained to participants. They will give their views on it. The research team will audio record the focus group and take notes. Participants will fill out questionnaires.