University of Wisconsin–Madison

Tag: Kristen Pecanac

Ageism: Bad for Health, Healthcare, and Research

University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Nursing Assistant Professor Kristen Pecanac, PhD, RN studies interactions among healthcare practitioners, patients, and family members as they make treatment decisions in hospital settings.  She says the peer review process has provided her with clear examples of ageism. “I did a study where I looked at conversations between physicians and …

End-of-Life Decisions: What You Say and When You Say It Matter

Decisions about medical treatments towards the end of life are often difficult. Patients may be in pain as they and their family members struggle to understand options and come to agreement. Poor decisions may unintentionally reduce quality of life for very ill people. As an ICU nurse and researcher, Kristen Pecanac, PhD, RN is familiar …