• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.179-187
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• 2015

For patients who are near the end of life, an inevitable step is discussion of a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order, which involves patients, their family members and physicians. To discuss DNR orders, patients and family members should know the meaning of the order and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) which includes chest compression, defibrillation, medication to restart the heart, artificial ventilation, and tube insertion in the respiratory tract. And the following issues should be considered as well: patients' and their families' autonomy, futility of treatment, and the right for death with dignity. Terminal cancer patients should be informed of what futility of treatment is, such as a low survival rate of CPR, unacceptable quality of life after CPR, and an irremediable disease status. In Korea, two different law suits related to life supporting treatments had been filed, which in turn raised public interest in death with dignity. Since the 1980s, knowledge of and attitude toward DNR among physicians and the public have been improved. However, most patients are still alienated from the decision making process, and the decision is often made less than a week before death. Thus, the DNR discussion process should be improved. Early palliative care should be adopted more widely.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing Administration
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.403-414
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• 2001

The study was intended to identify the nurses' experiences, understanding, and attitudes on DNR. Also, the study was to provide the data base for a standard of DNR decision-making and practice. The sample consisted of 347 nurses in eight general hospitals. The data were collected between August 1 and August 31, 2000. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and $x^2-test$. The results of the study were as follows : 1. Regarding DNR-related experience, 74.6 percent of the participants experienced DNR situations. Eleven percent of the participants received DNR education. DNR was most frequently (81.5%) requested by family members and relatives of patients. The decision-making on DNR was most frequently (76.8%) made by agreement between family members and medical staff. The DNR order was recorded at 81.9 percent on charts. Problems after DNR order were negligence in treatment and nursing care (30.6%) and guilty feelings due to doing the best (22.1%). CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) was performed about 49.8 percent of DNR cases. 2. Regarding understanding and attitude on DNR, most of the participants (93.1%) thought DNR was necessary. The major reasons for the necessity of DNR were impossible recovery (44.4%) and death with dignity (41.1%). The decision-making on DNR was most frequently made by patient and family members (47.8%) and followed by agreement between family members and medical staff (25.6%), and patients themselves (16.4%). Most of the participants thought that medical staff must explain DNR to critical and end-of-life patients and their family members. Forty four percent of the participants thought that the most appropriate time for DNR explanation was when patients with critical disease were admitted to hospitals. Most of the participants (90.2%) thought a guide book for DNR is necessary to be made in hospitals. 3. There were significant differences in the participants' understanding and attitudes on DNR according to religion career education and experience of DNR. Of the participants those who have religions and education experience on DNR thought that there would be more DNR requests after DNR is explained to patients and family members (p<.05). In addition, there was higher understanding on the necessity of DNR in those who have more career and DNR experience(p<.01). The findings of the study suggest that a guide book for DNR need to be made with inclusion of legal, ethical, and cultural aspects. Also, there needs to be more education on DNR in medical ethics to health care professional and to provide more information on DNR to the general public.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.95-108
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• 2014

Purpose: This descriptive study examined awareness of and ethical attitudes associated with Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders in 119 emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Method: In total, 255 paramedics and basic EMTs completed questionnaires between March and May, 2013. Data were analyzed using the SPSS WIN 18.0 program. Results: A chi-square analysis revealed significantly different responses given by paramedics and basic EMTs: Paramedics gave "the reason in which DNR is not necessary", as being "due to unclear DNR decision time" whereas basic EMTs answered that this was "due to a legal problem" ($x^2$ = 12.680, p < .05). Paramedics disagreed with the statement, "It is natural for medical teams to have less interest in patients with DNT orders", whereas basic EMTs agreed with the statement ($x^2$ = 6.666, p < .05). Conclusion: A unified manual on attitude toward DNR orders, taking account of social and culture factors, needs to be developed. This research provides a base line for future research.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.11-24
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to grasp the subjectivity of the nurses toward DNR (Do not resuscitation) order. Methods: Q methodology was employed to explore the nurses' subjectivity. Q population consisted of 292 statements that were obtained through individual in-depth interviews targeting 30 employees(nurses, doctors, staff members) and literature review. Finally, 30 nurses classified 34 statements using a 9 point scale. Results: The current survey that probed into the subjectivity of the nurses relative to DNR order abstracted four categories. The first type (restrictive acceptance type) perceived the determinants of DNR as the patient's hopeless state. The second type (evidence-based type) emphasized the decision based on the guideline. The third type (medical personnel-centered type) showed the characteristic that depends passively on the professional judgement. The fourth type (rationalistic type) emphasized rational characteristic that DNR decision needs to be made by considering several situations such as economic and psychological burden of family and the quality of life. Conclusion: These types of nurse's perception need to be considered in the nurses' continuing educational program in order to confront affirmatively and positively with ethical dilemma.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.2691-2703
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• 2015

This research aims to provide basic materials for assisting DNR patient cares by understanding ICU nurses' awareness and ethical attitude regarding DNR. A total of 154 results were analyzed which were collected from Aug. 1st to Sep. 5th in 2014 by surveying nurses working in ICU (from 1 advanced general hospital in G metropolitan city and other general hospitals of more than 700 beds in Cheolla provinces). (1) For the decision attitudes of DNR, there were both consent and objection. Consent for the patient's opinion of rejecting further treatment and life extension despite of bad prognosis. And objection for no conducting DNR in the case of the patient's wish, treatment requested by the guardian, and CPR for the patient who has no chance. (2) Objection for artificial respirator and other treatment requested by the patient's family and the entrance of guardians into ICU. Consent for the passive use of artificial respirator by the doctor and the decrease of basic care to stabilize patients physically and mentally. No specific opinion for treatment not following aseptic techniques. Objection for frequent reports to primary care physician requested by the family. (3) Acknowledging less interest by the doctor, while supporting the health care team in the case of the guardian's complaint, objection for the DNR decision mede by the primary care physician. Objection for the DNR decision by the guideline. Objection or neutrality for straightforward explanation to the patient of bad prognosis. Objection for straightforward explanation of the patient's status (even near to death) to the patient him/herself or the guardian. In conclusion, the subject of DNR is the patient and the patient's opinion should be fully reflected. The conflict arising from the scope of medical practice and decision processes should be minimized. The standard and guideline for DNR decision is required for the ethical decision making for the patient along with agreements based on full explanations.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.15-26
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to distinguish and describe the types of perceptions of do not resuscitate (DNR) proxy decisions among families of elderly patients in a long-term care facility. Methods: This exploratory study applied Q-methodology, which focuses on individual subjectivity. Thirty-four Q-statements were selected from 130 Q-populations formed based on the results of in-depth interviews and literature reviews. The P-samples were 34 families of elderly patients in a long-term care hospital in Busan, Korea. They categorized the Q-statements using a 9-point scale. Using the PC-QUANL program, factor analysis was performed with the P-samples along an axis. Results: The families' perceptions of the DNR proxy decision were categorized into three types. Type I, rational acceptance, valued consensus among family members based on comprehensive support from medical staff. Type II, psychological burden, involved hesitance in making a DNR proxy decision because of negative emotions and psychological conflict. Type III, discreet decisions, valued the patients' right to self-determination and desire for a legitimate proxy decision. Type I included 18 participants, which was the most common type, and types II and III each included eight participants. Conclusion: Families' perceptions of DNR proxy decisions vary, requiring tailored care and intervention. We suggest developing and providing interventions that may psychologically support families.

• 한국노년학
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1197-1211
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• 2010

This research was concucted to present a model of advance directives(AD) when a patient, who is in consciousness, shows a preference for an end of life care as an act of preparing for an uncertain situation that may arise in the forseeable future. The subjects of the research are 383 doctors/nurese and adults, who live in six cities and provinces, to investigate the status of AD, attitude regarding a meaningless life-prolonging treatment, and moreover, an understanding of and a preference for AD. The research was done by the well-structured questionnaire. Also, SPSS 14.0 is used to analyse the collected data, focused on frequency analysis, avearage and standard deviation, X2 test. As the results of the study, the most of the surveyed doctors/nurese knew DNR orders and AD and a few of them used DNR orders and AD practically. Also, the result shows that there is a negative conception of meaningless life-prolonging treatment among the responents, in addition, most of them agreed upon the idea of introducing AD to Korea, filling it out and making it legally effective. As a method of making AD out, the respondents wanted to use a form that mixed living will with an Power of Attorney in a document. Also, considering the appropriate time, respondents prefered when they are diagnosed with terminal illness. At the moment, the introductory model for AD, which is suitable for the Korean culture and current situation is presented based on the result of this research. In the future, other researches should deal with specific measures that can lead to a social consensus to adopt AD in Korea.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.37-52
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to compare the differences of attitude to death and perception on HPC between nursing and medical students. The data was collected by questionnaires and the period of data collection was from September 17 to October 12, 2012. The results were as followings. Statistically significant differences were found course of knowing HPC(${\chi}^2$=24.29, p<.001), reason of unactive introduction(${\chi}^2$=15.92, p=.003), having to CPR in irresponsive terminal situation to you(${\chi}^2$=4.62, p=.032) and to your family(${\chi}^2$=5.64, p=.018), decision-making about DNR(${\chi}^2$=12.28, p=.002), awareness to medical authority legal representative(${\chi}^2$=14.75, p<.001), awareness (${\chi}^2$=11.01, p=.001) and subject(${\chi}^2$=24.73, p<.001) of AD, addiction(p<.001), tolerance(p<.001), taking a point(${\chi}^2$=23.28, p<.001) of narcotic analgesics and control of pain(p=.532). The findings of the study provides the basis for expanding practice and education to hospice-palliative care for nursing and medical students.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2009

Purpose: We undertook this study to find out the recognitions of terminal cancer patients and doctors about advance directives (ADs), of how they would do in non-response medical conditions and whether ADs could be one of medical options for their dying with dignity. Methods: One hundred thirty four cancer patients in the Hospice Unit, St. Vincent's Hospital, and 97 medical doctors in the Department of Internal Medicine, Catholic Medical Center, were asked about ADs, including Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR), medical power of attorney, living will and medical options. Results: One hundred thirty patients (97%) and 38 doctors (39.2%) were unfamiliar with ADs, however, 128 patients (95.5%), 95 doctors (97.9%) agreed with it. Seventy nine patients (59.0%) and 96 doctors (99.0%) wanted DNR rather then intensive treatments if they were in non-response medical conditions. Eighty four patients (62.7%) and 75 doctors (77.3%) were agreeable to medical power of attorney. One hundred Thirty four patients (100.0%) and 94 doctors (96.9%) did not want medical options to be in terminal conditions, and hoped to die in peace. Conclusion: Most of patients did not know about ADs and how to make it. However, they showed positive attitudes about it. If we advertise it properly, it is highly likely that a large number of cancer patients would make their living wills easily by ADs. Nevertheless, many legal and ethical problems have to be solved. Doctors should engage their patients in an ongoing communication about the end-of-life. Therefore, let the patients have opportunities to plan their own deaths.