title: Cultural practices and end-of-life decision making in the neonatal intensive care unit in Taiwan.
abstract: The purpose of this research was to describe conditions of decision making for dying infants and cultural effects on the process of infant death in the neonatal intensive care unit. A retrospective chart review was used in this research. Fifty charts were reviewed; the major cause of death for the research subjects was complications of prematurity (52%). Eighty-two percent of the charts documented a do not resuscitate order, and 16% of parents allowed discontinuation of ventilator support when they realized the futility of continued care. In 30 nursing records, parents and their dying infants were offered a quiet place in which to grieve. In 10 cases, nurses accompanied these parents and allowed them to express their emotions. Research findings showed great outward expression of religion at the time of death. Various cultural issues affected both the grieving process of the families and the dying process of their infants.
authors.affiliation: Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung City, Taiwan, Republic of China. forever.pal.lily@gmail.com
authors.forename: Niang-Huei
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Hsin-Li
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chao-Huei
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bachman
mesh_terms: D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D054521:Cultural Competency; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D017283:Neonatal Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D013624:Taiwan; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods*