End-of-life issues--preferences and choices of a group of elderly Chinese subjects attending a day care centre in Singapore.
BACKGROUND
This was an exploratory study that was intended to provide a descriptive analysis of the choices and preferences of a group of elderly Chinese subjects attending a day care centre in Singapore with regard to end-of-life issues.


METHODS
A semi-structured one-to-one interview was conducted to collect data from the subjects. Qualitative techniques were used to analyse the data.


RESULTS
Forty-three subjects were interviewed. The median age was 71 years. There were more women than men (58.1% vs. 41.9%). The predominant religion was Buddhism/Taoism. 83.7% and 76.7% of the subjects preferred to be told of the diagnosis and prognosis of a terminal illness, respectively. The person most preferred to reveal the diagnosis was the attending doctor (60.5%). About 83.7% of the subjects have never heard of the Advanced Medical Directive Act, while 37.2% agreed that making an advanced directive would be necessary. Twenty-three (53.5%) would choose the doctor, while 15 (34.9%) would choose a family member as a surrogate decision-maker. Twenty-two (51.2%) thought that euthanasia should be allowed, while 15 (34.9%) disagreed. With regard to supportive measures at the end of life, 67.4% wanted cardiopulmonary resuscitation, 62.8% wanted artificial ventilation, 55.8% wanted nasogastric feeding, 65.1% wanted intravenous hydration and 41.9% wanted renal dialysis.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a need for closer communication between older persons and their carers with regard to end-of-life care. The attending doctor appears to have an important role in this respect.
Low
J A
JA
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Alexandra Hospital, Singapore.
Ng
W C
WC
Yap
K B
KB
Chan
K M
KM
D016223:Advance Directives; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D001290:Attitude; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D012846:Singapore; D013727:Terminal Care