Clinician Considerations Regarding Surgical Decision-Making in the Context of Dementia

Results of this qualitative study suggest that clinicians face challenges to surgical decision-making for PLWD, including limited documentation or resources to support identification of dementia, variable caregiver involvement, and constrained access to dementia care specialists who can support the decision-making process. Addressing these challenges may include improving communication pathways with longitudinal clinicians, EHR documentation for older adults, routine and meaningful inclusion of caregivers, and access to nonsurgical clinicians who can support surgical decision-making.

Corresponding Author: Rachel R. Adler, ScD, RD, Center for Surgery and Public Health, Mass General Brigham, 399 Revolution Dr, Ste 1042, Somerville, MA 02145 (radler1@mgb.org).

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