• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2011

Purpose: This study is to understand how community members perceive past life recollection and preparation for death. Methods: Using a questionnaire, we surveyed 160 adult residents of one of the districts (gu) in Seoul, Korea. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Participants chose their 30s and 40s as the most difficult time in their lives. The most painful experience was "an illness of a family member", followed by "trouble with a spouse", and "trouble with children". As for the most difficult social experience, "sense of loss in life" was ranked the highest. Personally, the happiest time was "accomplishment of a goal", while it was "happiness through children" in family relationship and "contribution to society through my career" in social life. As for the most regrettable experience, personally "having lived without purpose" was the highest, "not meeting my parents' expectation more" in family relationship; "not providing sufficient education" in relationship with children; "not having an occupation that I wanted" in work life, and "lack of social skills" in social life. More than 87% of the surveyed showed a positive attitude about the system of the do not resuscitate (DNS) order. For a situation where participants were supposed to have an incurable disease, "I want to be notified of the true condition" and "I want to write a will and advanced directives" ranked high, receiving more than 3.1 points out of 4. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the need for death education to provide people with an opportunity to accept their regrettable experiences in the past as part of their life. Also, this study suggests the importance of writing advanced directives for people to prepare for "death with dignity" how it can help their decision to be better respected.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.172-176
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• 2003

Purpose : This study was designed to evaluate the perception of cancer in the students of Korea University. Methods : 1,000 students of Korea University were surveyed by questionnaire from March 2001 to September 2002. Nine hundred ninety two complete questionnaires were returned. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, and Chi-square analysis using the SPSS program. Results : 701 students (76.1%) replied that cancer is a curable disease. However, the degree of satisfaction for cancer treatment with modem clinical medicine was low (37.5%). Moreover, they thought that there was no difference between the efficacy of treatment by chemotherapy, alternative medicine, or dietary modification. But, the positive evaluation for the effectiveness of chemotherapy in the students who had cancer patients in their families was higher than that in the students without the experience of cancer patients in their families. Six hundred ninety four students (75.3%) replied positively for euthanasia in terminal cancer patients. And they thought that the dignity and the right of the patients were the most important point that should be considered in making the decision of euthanasia. Conclusions : The credibility to modem clinical medicine for cancer treatment was relatively low in the students of Korea University who had no cancer patients in their families. So, further studies and trials will be warranted to evaluate the causes of these results and improve the credibility of modem clinical medicine for cancer treatment in the general population.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.140-146
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• 2008

Purpose: Sooner of later, end-of-life care decision-making will unfold and be settled during the professional lives of medical students. However, there is prevalent ambiguity and uncertainty between the palliative treatment and euthanasia. We conducted this survey to investigate attitudes of medical students towards end-of-life making decisions, and to find out which factors primarily influenced the attitudes. Methods: A study was conducted among medical students at one university, the Republic of Korea. A written questionnaire was sent to all the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-year medical students. It presented 5 statements on end-of-life decision-making. Students were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with each statement. Results: The response rate was 74.4%, and 267 questionnaires were analyzed. Percentages of agreement with each statements on Voluntary active euthanasia (VAE), Physician assisted suicide (PAS), Withholding life-sustaining management, Withdrawing life-sustaining management, and Terminal sedation (TS) was 37.1%, 21.7%, 58.4%, 60.3%, and 41.6%, respectively. The grade of students, religious activity, and educational experience were determinant factors. Agreement on each statements was higher in the low religious activity group than in the high religious activity group. Agreement on TS was higher among 3rd year students during their clerkship than among 1st and 2nd year students. Age of students and the experience of dying-people care had no significant influence. Conclusion: In end-of-life decision-making, religious and educational factors influenced medical students' attitudes. Especially, the experience of education during clerkship had significant influence on the attitude. Proper teaching on end-of-life decisions should further be considered during medical students' clerkship.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2003

This paper addresses the minor differences in the description of pain in Korean language in order to develop a standarized cancer pain aneument tool for Korean adults, Korean Cancer Pain Assessement Tool. The subtle differences in the meaning of expressions used cannot be translated into English and therefore we omiltted the English abstract.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.218-226
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• 2011

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the public attitude toward the development of national health program for cancer survivorship. Based on the results of this survey suggest the necessity of national health program for cancer survivorship. Methods: We surveyed 1,015 adults who were over 20 years of age from the sixteen cities and local districts of Korea. We conducted a telephone survey with a structured questionnaire on the post-treatment care at the nation and on the permission as the handicapped for cancer. Results: Fifty-six percent of respondents answered that post-treatment program at the national level is very necessary and twenty-seven percent replied that it is necessary. Respondents emphasized 'Expanding insurance coverage for post-treatment care' (29.8%) and 'Systematic education and rehabilitation programs after treatment' (25.6%). This study found that a lower educational level [adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=1.36; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.04~1.77], earning under 300 per month [aOR=1.36; 95% CI=1.04~1.77], being married (60.2%) [aOR=1.79; 95% CI=1.34~2.37] and thought higher level of cancer treatment in Korea than the advanced (64.4%) [aOR=1.56; 95% CI=1.15~2.12] influenced the positive attitude toward a national health program. Sixty-eight percent of respondents answered 'Strongly agree' or 'agree' to permission for cancer survivors as the handicapped. People who have been married (72.4%) [aOR=1.89; 95% CI=1.41~2.53] and who have had a lower educational level [aOR=1.35; 95% CI=1.03~1.78] responded that they agree more to permission for cancer survivors as the handicapped. Conclusion: This study shows the positive public attitude of the public toward the national health program for the cancer survivors.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.8-18
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to better understand the illness experiences and palliative care needs in community-dwelling persons with cardiometabolic diseases. Methods: This qualitative descriptive study was conducted with 11 patients (and three family members) among 28 patients contacted. Interviews were led by the principal investigator in her office or at participants' home depending on their preference. All interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed by a research assistant. The interviews were analyzed by two independent researchers using a conventional method. Results: Participants' ages ranged from 42 to 82 years (nine men and two women). Three themes were identified: (1) same disease, but different illness experiences; (2) I am in charge of my disease(s); (3) preparation for disease progression. Participants were informed of the name of their disease when they were diagnosed, but not provided with explanation of the diagnosis or meant or how to do self-care to delay the disease progression, which increased the feelings of uncertainty, hopelessness and anxiety. Taking medication was considered to be the primary treatment option and self-care a supplemental one. Advanced care plans were considered when they felt the progression of their disease(s) while refraining from sharing it with their family or health care professionals to save their concerns. All participants were willing to withhold life-sustaining treatment without making any preparation in writing. Conclusion: Education on self-care and advanced care planning should be provided to community-dwelling persons with cardiometabolic diseases. A patient-centered education program needs to be developed for this population.