Study I: Decision-making by family members of persons in life-crisis states

Study II: Decision-making by family members of older adults in life-crisis states

< Decision-making in the unusual setting of a critical care unit with little time to do so >

< < Lack of time, because of the seriousness of the condition > >

< < The context of the critical care unit > >

< Decision-making in an unstable psychological state, while conscious of their own responsibility >

< Thinking in an unstable psychological state >

< < Mental agitation > >

< < Mental agitation > >

< < Feelings of regret and responsibility > >

< < Anxiety due to the uncertainty of the future > >

< < A composed demeanor > >

< Deliberating deeply on the patient’s prognosis, their relationship with the patient, and what they believe the patient would want >

< Deliberating deeply on the patient’s prognosis, their relationship with the patient, and what they believe the patient would want >

< < Undergoing treatment for the underlying disease > > *

< < Thinking about the patient being in the 80s > > *

< < Guessing the patient wishes beforehand from their attitudes > > *

< < Not knowing the patient’s wishes > >

< < Not knowing the patient’s wishes > >

< < Thinking from the viewpoint of the current status of family relationships > >

< < Thinking from the viewpoint of the current status of family relationships > >

< < Thinking about the basis of the medical situation > >

< < Thinking about the financial resources > >

< Seeking emotional support from medical staff in the decision-making >

< Seeking emotional support from medical staff in the decision-making >

< < Wanting an understandable explanation > >

< < Wanting an understandable explanation > >

< < Feeling reassured when medical staff are close at hand > >

< < Feeling reassured when medical staff are close at hand > >

< < Empathy with their feelings > >

< Taking other family members’ views into account in decision-making >

< Taking other family members’ views into account in decision-making >

< < Conjecturing the patient’s wishes > >

< < Conjecturing the patient’s wishes > >

< < Making decisions by agreement after discussions within the family > >

< < Decision-making based on discussion and agreement within the family > >

< < Deciding as the person responsible for the family > >

< < Deciding as the person responsible for the family > >

< < Trusting medical staff and leaving everything to them > >

< < Trusting medical staff and leaving everything to them > >

< < Making decisions in discussion with the medical team > >

< < Checking for the existence of a legal decision-maker > >