Unwanted Medical Treatment Survey February 2014 METHODOLOGY Purple Insights conducted 1,007 interviews among adults 50+ between January 31 st and February 7 th, 2014. The margin of error is +/- 3.1%. ADVANCE DIRECTIVES 1. How important is it to you that your end of life medical treatment wishes are followed? Very important 82 Somewhat important 13 Not too important 2 Not at all important 2 Don t Know 1 2. How angry do you think you d be if you knew your end of life medical treatment wishes were not followed? Very angry 57 Somewhat angry 22 Not too angry 5 Not at all angry 10 Don t Know 6
3. How confident are you that your own end-of-life care wishes or advance directive would be followed by...? Showing Very Confident over Total Confident/Total Not Confident Your appointed healthcare surrogate or the person you would choose to be your surrogate 79 92/4 Any of your family members 77 93/4 All of your family members 73 93/4 Your doctor or other healthcare provider 63 88/7 The emergency room or ICU 47 80/13 Your nursing home or assisted living facility 28 54/18 4. Do you think physicians should be reimbursed by Medicare or private health insurance for the time they spend talking with patients about their end-of-life care choices and options? Yes 61 No 29 Don t know 11 UNWANTED TREATMENT 5. There is currently a proposal to hold doctors and medical providers accountable when they give people treatments they don t want. The proposal would stop payment for any medical treatment conflicting with a person s known end-of-life wishes. Do you favor or oppose this proposal? Favor, strongly 50 Favor, not strongly 15 Not Sure 14 Oppose, not strongly 8 Oppose, strongly 13 NET FAVOR 65 NET OPPOSE 21
6. Have you ever personally received or has a family member received medical treatment considered unwanted? Yes, personally 2 Yes, family member 8 Yes, personally and family member 1 No 86 Don t know 2 NET YES 12 7. Have you ever personally received or has a family member received medical treatment considered excessive? Yes, personally 4 Yes, family member 13 Yes, personally and family member 2 No 78 Don t know 3 NET YES 19 8. What actions would you want to take if you, or someone in your family, received unwanted medical treatment? Change doctors or medical practices 50 Take legal action against the doctor or medical practice 41 Notify the American Medical Association 41 Not pay for the treatment 40 Fight the charges from the insurance company 38 Take no action 6 Other 4 Don t know 8
9. How likely would you be to take the following actions to avoid unwanted medical treatment? Showing Very Likely over Total Likely/Total Not Likely Discuss your end of life wishes with friends and family 79 93/6 Write a formal advance directive, such as a living will 74 90/8 Change doctors, hospitals or facilities if I am unhappy with my care 73 options or treatments Appoint a power of attorney or medical surrogate to ensure your endof-life care wishes are followed Speak to your doctor about your own end-of-life wishes Take political action to protect patients rights to their own choice in end of life care Conduct research online or elsewhere about different end-of-life care options available to you Seek counseling from a therapist, caseworker, social worker, or lawyer about your end-of-life wishes Wear a bracelet or other identification about your end-of-life wishes Join a support group or other organization to discuss medical issues, or end-of-life decisions and options 91/7 73 88/10 68 84/15 40 66/30 35 59/39 35 58/39 26 50/45 13 35/63
DEMOGRAPHICS 10. Gender Female 54 Male 47 11. In politics today, do you consider yourself a Republican, Democrat, or Independent? [IF REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, ASK:] Do you consider yourself a strong (Republican/Democrat) or a not so strong (Republican/Democrat)? [IF INDEPENDENT/OTHER, ASK:] Would you say that you lean more toward the Republicans or more toward the Democrats? Democrat, strongly 22 Democrat, not strongly 9 Independent, lean Democrat 7 Independent 16 Independent, lean Republican 13 Republican, not strongly 10 Republican, strongly 18 Don t Know/Refused 4 12. What is the highest level of education that you have completed? Less than high school 6 High school graduate 41 Some college 20 Trade or professional school 5 College graduate 18 Post-graduate work or degree 10 Don t Know/Refused 2 13. Are you black, white, Hispanic, Asian, or Native American? White 82 Black 8 Native American 2 Hispanic 2 Asian 1 Other (vol.) 0 Don t Know/Refused 5
14. Do you currently suffer from a chronic disease or serious, advanced or terminal illness? No 80 Yes 18 Don t Know/Refused 2 15. Which of the following best describes your current living situation? I live in my own home, by myself or with my partner 84 I live with my children, friends, or other family member 11 I live in a retirement community 1 I live in an assisted living facility 0 Other 1 Refused 2 16. What is your marital status? Married or domestic partnership 63 Widowed 16 Single 11 Divorced 8 Separated 1 Don t know/refused 2 17. What is your present religion, if any? Protestant 33 Catholic 23 Other Christian 19 None/Atheist 13 Jewish 1 Agnostic 1 Muslim 0 Something else 3 Not sure/refused 6
18. Which of the following income groups includes your TOTAL FAMILY INCOME last year before taxes? Just stop me when I read the correct category. Up to $20,000 15 $20,000-$29,999 11 $30,000-$39,999 13 $40,000-$49,999 9 $50,000-$74,999 12 $75,000-$99,999 11 $100,000-$149,999 8 $150,000-$199,999 3 $200,000 or more 3 Don t Know/Refused 16 19. How would you rate your financial situation today? Excellent 15 Good 40 Fair 29 Poor 13 Don t know/refused 4 20. Age 50-59 42 60-69 31 70-79 17 80+ 11 21. Region South 37 West 22 Midwest 22 Northeast 19