title: [Perceptions regarding dialysis cessation and life support treatments in patients from Quebec undergoing hospital hemodialysis: age comparison].
abstract: The End-Stage Renal Disease population is aging. Considering that hemodialysis is a treatment that maintains and prolongs life, this descriptive-comparative study looks at the perceptions of patients according to age group -< 65 years, n = 121 and ≥ 65 years, n = 123, as it pertains to dialysis treatment cessation and life-sustaining treatments.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Older patients are more indecisive as to what dialysis treatment cessation may actually represent for them (p = 0,01). They expressed a greater need for support from the health care team if they decided to stop dialysis treatments (p = 0,02); a greater involvement from the physician (p = 0,04); and, in the event patients could not take part in end-of-life decision-making, they would give priority to the wishes of loved ones instead of their own wishes (p = 0,01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advanced care planning is necessary to demystify hemodialysis withdrawal and to support patients and their loved ones through this process.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton. judith.gagnon@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: Jocelyne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Saint-Arnaud
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bourdeau
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Côté
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chapados
authors.forename: Cécile
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michaud
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D028761:Withholding Treatment