Trauma patients' desire for autonomy in medical decision making is impaired by smoking and hazardous alcohol consumption - A bi-national study

This cross-sectional investigation studied the association between substance use and patients' desire for autonomy in medical decision making (MDM) in two trauma settings. A total of 102 patients (age 42.7 ± 17.4 years, 70.6% male) admitted to an orthopaedic service in Warsaw, Poland, and 1009 injured patients (age 34.6 ± 12.8 years, 62.3% male) treated in an emergency department in Berlin, Germany, were enrolled. Patients' desire for autonomy in MDM was evaluated with the Decision Making Preference Scale of the Autonomy Preference Index. Substance use (hazardous alcohol consumption and/or tobacco use) and educational level were measured. Linear regression techniques were used to determine the association between substance use and desire for autonomy in MDM. Substance use was found to be independently associated with a reduced desire by the patient for autonomy in medical decision making. No differences in patients' desire for autonomy were observed between the study sites. Empowerment strategies that encourage smokers or patients with hazardous alcohol consumption to participate in MDM may increase the effectiveness of health promotion and injury prevention efforts in this population.