Osong Public Health Res Perspect.
2015 Apr;6(2):126-132. 10.1016/j.phrp.2015.02.003.
Comparison of Consensus on Life-sustaining Treatment of the Elderly in Care Facilities and Family Member Dyad
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Health Administration, Kongju National University, Kongju, Korea
- 2Department of Health and Medical Administration, Doowon Technical University College, Anseong, Korea
- KMID: 2518198
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrp.2015.02.003
Abstract
Objectives
The purpose of this study is to compare the agreement in opinion between the elderly in care facilities and their family members regarding the life-sustaining treatment at the deathbed and to find out if the intentions of the elderly are being properly reflected in their deathbed treatment.
Methods
Data were collected from 85 elderly individuals at five care facilities in Chunkcheongnam-do and 85 family members. The data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire from July 22, 2013 to August 15, 2014. A total of 170 cases were analyzed using SPSS version 21.
Results
First, the family members' preference for life-sustaining treatment was higher than the patients' preference. The preference between the elderly and their family members regarding life-sustaining treatment was statistically significant with regards to oral nutrition, pain control through oral and anal administration, pain control through intravenous administration, transfusion, and admission to an intensive care unit. Second, looking at the agreement between elderly and guardians regarding life-sustaining treatment, there was significant concordance about general testing, oral nutrition, intravenous hydration, intravenous nutrition, antibiotic treatment for severe infection with low resiliency, admission to an intensive care unit, blood pressure increase medication use, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and tracheotomy.
Conclusion
It is essential for the medical staff to confirm agreement between the elderly and their family members regarding life-sustaining treatment, and if such a prior agreement is not feasible, the patient's intention should be considered more actionable than their family members.
- Full Text Links
-
- Actions
-
Cited
- CITED
-
- Close
- Share
-
- Similar articles
-
- Experience of Life-sustaining Treatment in Patient Care among Intensive Care Unit Nurses: Phenomenological Approach
- Factors Associated Quality of Life of Elderly in Non-paid or Paid Assisted Living Facilities
- The Relationship among Attitudes toward the Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment, Death Anxiety, and Death Acceptance among Hospitalized Elderly Cancer Patients
- Family Membe's Caregiving Stress and Satisfaction of Care for Patients with Dementia in Long Term Care Facilities and Day Care Centers
- End-of-life Decision in Korea
