Understanding disparities in aggressive care preferences between patients with terminal illness and their family members.
We examined the factors associated with the disparity in aggressive care preferences between patients with terminal cancer and their family members. Two hundred forty-four consecutive pairs recruited from three university hospitals participated in this study. Each pair completed questionnaires that measured two major aggressive care preferences-admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and the use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Sixty-eight percent of patients and their family members were in agreement regarding admission to the ICU and 71% agreed regarding CPR. Regarding admission to the ICU, younger, unmarried patients and patients who preferred to die in an institution were more likely to have a different preference from their family caregivers. Regarding CPR, younger patients and patients from severely dysfunctional families were more likely to have a different preference from their family caregivers. Elucidation of the factors associated with such disparities should help reduce them.
Yun
Young Ho
YH
Quality of Cancer Care Branch (Y.H.Y., C.H.Y., J.S.L., S.M.P.), National Cancer Center, Goyang, Gyeonggi, South Korea. lawyun08@ncc.re.kr
You
Chang Hoon
CH
Lee
Jung Suk
JS
Park
Sang Min
SM
Lee
Kyung Sik
KS
Lee
Chang Geol
CG
Kim
Susie
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003422:Critical Care; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013727:Terminal Care