Variability of Judgments of Capacity: Experience of Capacity Evaluators in a Study of Research Consent Capacity

摘要: Background Assessment of decision-making capacity is a common and important function psychiatric consultants. However, the sources variability in evaluators' judgments have not been well characterized. Objective To examine degree potential categorical experienced psychiatrists. Method The setting was study comparing capacities 188 persons with Alzheimer's disease to appoint research proxy consent two hypothetical randomized controlled trials for dementia (a new drug RCT neurosurgical RCT). We compared five consultation psychiatrists' 555 videotaped interviews. Both quantitative qualitative data were used. Results Pair wise kappa statistics ranged from slight agreement (0.17) substantial (0.64) group ranging fair moderate (0.40 0.45) regarding three capacities. included varying "strictness" among judges, test-retest reliability within relative novelty assessing participation decisions, as limitations methods used obtain study. Discussion There considerable psychiatrists research. identified this may provide starting points more effective training assessment.