The Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment program: Oregon emergency medical technicians' practical experiences and attitudes.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate emergency medical technicians' (EMTs) experiences with the Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) program and learn about attitudes regarding its effectiveness.


METHODS
Anonymous survey mailed to a stratified random sample.


METHODS
Tri-County Portland, Oregon, area.


METHODS
A total of 572 Oregon EMT respondents (out of 1,048 surveys) were included in the analysis.


METHODS
Survey questions about experiences with the POLST form and opinions about POLST.


RESULTS
Respondents were mostly male (76%) and paramedics (66%). Most respondents (73%) had treated a patient with a POLST, and 74% reported receiving education about POLST. EMTs reported that POLST, when present, changed treatment in 45% of cases. Seventy-five percent of the respondents agreed that the POLST form provides clear instructions about patient preferences, and 93% agreed that the POLST form is useful in determining which treatments to provide when the patient is in cardiopulmonary arrest. Fewer (63%) agreed that the form is useful in determining treatments when the patient has a pulse and is breathing.


CONCLUSIONS
Most respondents have experience with the POLST program. EMTs find the POLST form useful and often use it to change treatment decisions for patients.
Schmidt
Terri A
TA
Center for Ethics in Health Care, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. schmidtt@ohsu.edu
Hickman
Susan E
SE
Tolle
Susan W
SW
Brooks
Heather S
HS
D032722:Advance Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002755:Choice Behavior; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004522:Educational Status; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000592:standards; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records / Q000592:standards*; D009922:Oregon; D018579:Patient Selection; D024382:Professional Role; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016414:Resuscitation Orders; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires