[Attitudes Towards End-of-Life Decisions and Long-Term Care Dependency: Results of a Representative Survey of Austrians Aged 50].
OBJECTIVE
Existing research on attitudes in the general population regarding end-of-life decisions has included neither old age long-term care dependency nor worries regarding age(ing). The aim of this study is to present first results from a recent survey on this topic.


METHODS
A nationally representative cross-sectional survey of the population aged 50+was conducted in Austria (n=968) in 2015.


RESULTS
29.0% of the respondents indicated not wanting to live on as a severely care-dependent older person. In the case of an older care-dependent person, 48.5% approved of forgoing life-sustaining treatment, 41.7% of assisted suicide and 34.1% of euthanasia if requested. Worries about old age and ageing were widespread (53.7-83.0%) and highly worried respondents were more inclined to support assisted suicide and euthanasia compared to those less worried.


CONCLUSIONS
Worries and negative stereotypes regarding age(ing) and long-term care dependency should be addressed by information campaigns.
Institut für Sozialmedizin und Epidemiologie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Graz, Austria.
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Stolz
Institut für Sozialmedizin und Epidemiologie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Graz, Austria.
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Rásky
Institut für Sozialmedizin und Epidemiologie, Medizinische Universität Graz, Graz, Austria.
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Freidl
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001290:Attitude; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001317:Austria; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires