• 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 Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.73-84
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the ethical awareness and attitude of patients' families towards Do-Not-Resuscitate(DNR), and thus provide basic information required to develop Korean appropriate DNR instructions and practice informed consent for DNR. Methods: During April 2010, 219 patient family members visiting the hospital were surveyed using a questionnaire. Results: Most of the participants preferred DNR to meaningless treatment for incurable patients. They recognized the necessity of explaining DNR to the patient with a terminal disease. They also requested DNR orders for themselves if they were in the same medical condition. In making a DNR decision, the patient's family agreed and preferred that it reflect the opinion of the patient and the doctor in charge. They also agreed that treatment should be given with the best efforts even if a DNR decision had been made for the patient. Conclusion: To make a decision on DNR for a patient who is terminally ill or for whom survival is not possible, a practice of informed consent and guidelines for executing the DNR reflecting the patient's opinion are required.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.762-771
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of patients who were recipients of decision-making DNR, to describe the situations of DNR, and to analyze the APACHE III and MOF scores. Method: Data collection was conducted through reviews of medical records of 51 patients and through interviews with families of patients who were decision-makers for DNR at C university K Hospital located in Seoul from April to September 2002. Results: The men's APACHE III and MOF scores were higher than the women's and the non cancer patients were higher than cancer patients. Some 80.4% of DNR orders was by communication, while 11.8% of consents were written. Each of APACHE III and MOF scores of patients in the intensive care unit was higher than the patients in general ward at both points of admission and decision-making of DNR. APACHE III and MOF scores positively correlated statistically with each other. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that APACHE III and MOF scores be useful for decision-making of DNR as a tool measuring severity.

• 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 Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.298-309
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to describe the experiences of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) among nurses. Methods: Data were collected by in-depth interviews with 8 nurses in 8 different hospitals. Conventional qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: Eight major themes emerged from the analysis: DNR decision-making bypassing the patient, inefficiency in the decision-making process of DNR, negative connotation of DNR, predominance of verbal DNR over written DNR, doubts and confusion about DNR, least amount of intervention in the decision for DNR change of focus in the care of the patient after a DNR order, and care burden of patients with DNR. Decision-making of DNR occurred between physicians and family members, not the patients themselves. Often high medical expenses were involved in choosing DNR, thus if choosing DNR it was implied the family members and health professionals as well did not try their best to help the patient. Verbal DNR permission was more popular in clinical settings. Most nurses felt guilty and depressed about the dying/death of patients with DNR. Conclusion: Clearer guidelines on DNR, which reflect a family-oriented culture, need to be established to reduce confusion and to promote involvement in the decision-making process of DNR among nurses.

• 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.

• 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.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.118-128
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of bereavement for main family members who had made and followed DNR decision for their family members. Method: This qualitative study was based on a grounded theory, and used in-depth interview techniques with the bereaved 10 main family members who had been treated and died under DNR order. Results: The causal condition of the family member was 'Releasing', and the main consequent phenomenon were 'Blaming self and ruminating'. The contextual condition was 'The memory of the deceased'. The action/reaction strategy was 'Purifying'. The intervening condition was 'Supporting system', and the consequence was 'Acceptance'. The experience after bereavement of the family member on DNR decision were rational processes that purified themselves and healed the guilt feeling about the decision from reflective assessment and response about DNR decision. Based on this results, the substantive theory 'Reflective self healing' was derived. Conclusion: The main family members in following DNR decision are more likely to have unhealthy emotional condition than others in normal bereavement process. But they overcame the grief of bereavement through reflective self healing process.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.122-130
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe and understand the meaning and the structure of subjective experiences of intensive care nurses with death of patients with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders. Methods: Data were collected from eight intensive care nurses at general hospitals using individual in-depth interviews and analyzed by phenomenological research method. Results: The nurses' experiences were grouped into four theme clusters: 1) ambiguity of death without correct answer, 2) a dilemma experienced at the border between death and work, 3) the weight of death that is difficult to carry and 4) death-triggered reflection of life. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop accurate judgment criteria for DNR, detailed regulations on the DNR decision process, guidelines and education on DNR patient care for nurses. It is also needed to develop an intervention program for DNR patients' families.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2017

Purpose: This study investigated changes in life-sustaining treatments in terminally ill cancer patients after consenting to a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. Methods: Electronic medical records were reviewed to select terminally ill cancer patients who were treated at the oncology unit of the Asan Medical Center, a tertiary hospital in South Korea and died between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. Results: The median (range) age of the 200 patients was 59 (22~89) years, and 62% (124 persons) were male. Among all patients, 83.5% were aware of their medical condition, and 47.0% of the patients had their DNR order signed by their spouses. The median of the patients' hospital stay was 15 days, and time from admission to DNR decision was 10 days. After signing a DNR order, 35.7~100% of the life-sustaining treatments that had been provided at the time of the DNR decision making were administered. The most commonly discontinued interventions were transfusion (13.5%), blood test (11.5%) and parenteral nutrition (8.5%). Conclusion: It is necessary to define the scope of life-sustaining treatments for DNR patients. Treatment guidelines should be established as well to secure terminal patients' death with dignity after their consent to a DNR order, thereby avoiding meaningless life-sustaining treatments and allowing administration of active terminal care interventions.