# Understanding and Improving Surgical Decision-Making for Persons Living with Dementia, their Family Caregivers, and their Providers: A Mixed Methods Study

> **NIH NIH R01** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2022 · $101,219

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 Surgery often has benefits, such as reducing symptoms or extending life, but it is not without risk.
Patients vary both in their tolerance of symptoms and of surgical risk. The concept of shared, patient
preference-concordant surgical decision making potentially helps patients achieve their goals.
 Surgical decision-making for persons living with dementia (PLWD) is challenging. Although the
influence of race and ethnicity has been examined in such contexts as patient-physician
communication and implicit bias, much of this literature focuses on Black-White disparities, rather
than Hispanic-Non-Hispanic. To gain a better understanding of the factors and relationships
influencing surgical decision-making for Hispanic PLWDs, and, in turn, develop effective protocols to
mitigate negative outcomes, it is important that we understand the perspectives of all the
stakeholders involved, including patients, family members, and care providers.
 This supplement seeks to fill a significant gap in the literature by exploring approaches to surgical
decision-making for Hispanic patients with dementia from these perspectives. The proposed mixed
methods study is designed to understand the epidemiology of surgery for PLWD, as well as patient,
caregiver, and provider practices and challenges of surgical decision-making in clinical settings.
 Research Aim 1: We will explore in-depth how surgical care providers, Hispanic patients with
dementia, and patient family members approach the surgical decision-making process. Specifically,
we seek to understand the facilitators and barriers for making patient goal-concordant care decisions
by examining the perceived relevance of 1) potential racial bias, 2) patient and family values and
culture, and 3) communication and language.
 Research Aim 2: We will explore the perceived hospital experiences of persons living with
dementia and their family caregivers after the patients have been discharged. Specifically, we will
examine discharge pathways, perceived communication quality, and perceptions of hospital
environments to uncover future avenues for research, intervention, and hospital policy improvement.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10589248
- **Project number:** 3R01AG067507-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Joel S. Weissman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $101,219
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-05-15 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10589248

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10589248, Understanding and Improving Surgical Decision-Making for Persons Living with Dementia, their Family Caregivers, and their Providers: A Mixed Methods Study (3R01AG067507-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10589248. Licensed CC0.

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