• 중환자간호학회지
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.41-50
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe what critical care nurses perceived about life-sustaining treatment at end of life. Methods: A qualitative content analysis method was utilized. The unit of analysis was interview text obtained from fifty critical care nurses of a general hospital. Results: Seven categories in two content areas were abstracted. In the negative perception area, the following five categories were abstracted: patients' suffering, dying with damaged dignity, patients' isolation from family members, regret about choosing life-sustaining treatment, and family members' burden. In the positive perception area, the following two categories were abstracted: willingness to sustain life and duty as family members. Conclusions: Nurses have better competencies pertaining to understanding patients' responses and suffering than any other health care professions do. Nurses should play an important role in advocating for patients and their family in the process of end-of-life care decision making.

• 보건행정학회지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.19-28
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• 2023

Background: With the enactment of the Hospice, Palliative, Care, and Life-sustaining Treatment Decision-Making Act in February 2018, legal guidelines for physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) were presented. This study was conducted to analyze the association of writing POLST on the use of health care before death. Methods: The study analyzed the electronic medical records and POLSTs of 1,003 adult patients who died at a tertiary hospital located in Seoul from February 4, 2018 to February 4, 2019. Results: Of the deaths, 80% (n=804) completed POLST. Among patients who completed POLST before death, 51% (n=412) were written 1-7 days before death, and only 31% (n=246) were completed by patients themselves. 99% (n=799) decided to withdraw or withhold cardiopulmonary resuscitation. As a result of analyzing the effect of POLST on medical use before death, it was found that POLST and inpatient cost had a significant negative correlation, and POLST completion significantly reduced death in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, both inpatient costs and death at ICU increased when the POLST was completed by surrogate decision-makers rather than patients themselves. Conclusion: The enactment of the Hospice, Palliative, Care, and Life-sustaining Treatment Decision-Making Act provided a legal basis for withdrawing and withholding meaningless life-sustaining treatment. By specifying the treatment to be received at the end of one's life through the POLST, inpatient treatment costs and death at the ICU were decreased. However, the frequent decision-making by the surrogates and completion of POLST close to death may hinder the original purpose of the law.

• 의료법학
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.103-128
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• 2023

현행 연명의료결정법에 따르면 연명의료를 시행하지 않거나 중단하는 결정은 임종과정에 있는 환자의 의사가 우선적으로 적용된다. 이러한 환자를 대상으로 하는 연명의료의 의사결정은 환자가 의식이 있는 경우에는 환자 본인이 연명의료에 대한 의사를 직접 서면이나 구두로 표시하거나 사전연명의료의향서와 연명의료계획서를 작성하는 것으로 자기결정을 행사할 수 있다. 반면에, 환자가 사전연명의료의향서나 연명의료계획서를 작성하지 않은 경우에는 환자 가족의 진술로 환자의 의사를 확인하거나 환자가족 전원의 동의로 연명의료중단등결정을 할 수 있다. 그러나 가족이 없거나 가족을 알 수 없는 무연고 환자인 경우에는 입원하기 전에 사전연명의료의향서와 연명의료계획서를 작성하지 않은 상태에서 의사표현을 할 수 없는 의학적 상태로 되면 환자의 의사를 알 수가 없어 환자에 대한 연명의료를 지속해야 할지 중단해야 할지에 대한 결정을 해야 하는 상황이 발생한다. 본 연구는 무연고환자의 경우에 연명의료결정을 위한 정책적 방안을 제시하고자 현행법상 무연고 환자에 대한 논의와 방안 검토했다. 첫째로, 성년후견인제도의 적용을 살펴보았지만, 성년후견인은 신체를 침해하는 의료행위에 대한 동의를 대신할 수 있지만 의료행위의 직접적인 결과로 사망할 수 있는 경우에는 가정법원의 허가를 필요로 하기 때문에 임종과정에 있는 급박한 환자에게는 적절한 방안이라고 할 수 없다. 둘째로, 연명의료결정법 제14조에 따라 의료기관윤리위원회에서 무연고 환자에 대한 연명의료중단등결정에 관한 심의에 대해 살펴보았다. 현행법상에서는 의료기관윤리위원회에서 무연고 환자에 대한 연명의료중단등결정을 할 수 없기 때문에, 개정을 통하여 무연고 환자에 대한 연명의료중단등결정에 대한 사항을 동법 제14조에 반영하거나 무연고 환자에 대한 규정을 따로 신설하여 개정하는 것이 필요하다. 또한 의료기관윤리위원회에서 무연고 환자에 대한 결정해야 하지만, 그런 결정을 하는 것에 대해서 해당 의료기관에서 할 수 없다면, 공용윤리위원회에서 무연고환자의 연명의료중단등결정을 할 수 있도록 법률을 개정할 필요가 있다.

• 융합정보논문지
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.45-53
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• 2021

본 연구는 만성 심폐질환을 가진 말기 노인환자를 대상으로 연명의료결정 전후에 제공된 완화간호의 빈도와 변화를 파악하기 위한 후향적 조사 연구이다. 일개 대학병원 내과계 병동에 입원한 말기 심폐질환 노인환자 124명의 전자 의무기록을 조사한 결과, 연명의료결정 이후에 경구진통제 투여, 통증 경감을 위한 냉온요법과 마사지요법, 요로감염 시 약물투여와 소변 배양검사, 구강간호, 세발간호, 부분목욕의 제공은 유의하게 감소한 것으로 나타났다. 통증 경감을 위한 기도 및 이완요법, 호흡곤란 시 구·비강간호, 정서적 간호 제공은 연명의료결정 전후에 유의한 차이가 없었으며, 영적 간호는 전체적으로 가장 적게 제공된 것으로 나타났다. 따라서 심폐질환을 가진 말기 노인환자를 대상으로 연명의료결정 이후에 비약물적 통증관리와 안위간호의 개선이 필요하겠다.

• 중환자간호학회지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.27-43
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• 2020

Purpose : This integrative review aimed to synthesize studies on intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' attitude, perceptions, and experiences toward end-of-life care decision-making. Methods : Using Whittermore and Knafl (2005)'s methods, we identified and synthesized research articles published in domestic journals between the years 2003 and 2019 and evaluated the quality of selected articles using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Results : In the 13 studies reviewed, 12 were published prior to enactment of the "The Act for Hospice and Palliative Care and Decision-Making about Life-Sustaining Treatment (2018)." All nine quantitative studies identified were based on cross-sectional descriptive survey. In four qualitative studies, content analysis (n=2) and phenomenology (n=2) were used. Overall, ICU nurses were well-aware of the necessity of communicating and limiting life-sustaining treatments. Many ICU nurses had positive attitude towards limiting life-sustaining treatments to promote patients' comfort and dignity. Although nurses were willing to take active roles, they also reported having experienced high stress in the process of decision-making and implementation. Conclusions : It is important to prepare ICU nurses with proper knowledge and attitude regarding the topic area. It is also equally important to develop systems to support nurses' emotional stress and moral distress during communication, decision-making, and implementation.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.12-24
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• 2022

Purpose: This descriptive study compared the perceptions, determinants, and needs of patients, family members, nurses, and physicians regarding life-sustaining treatment decisions for patients with hematologic malignancies in the hematology-oncology department of a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. Methods: In total, 147 subjects were recruited, gave written consent, and provided data by completing a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, the chi-square test, and the Fisher exact test. Results: Nurses (F=3.35) and physicians (F=3.57) showed significantly greater familiarity with the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment than patients (F=2.69) and family members (F=2.59); (F=19.58, P<0.001). Many respondents, including 19 (51.4%) family members, 16 (43.2%) physicians, and 11 (29.7%) nurses, agreed that the patient's opinion had the greatest effect when making life-sustaining treatment decisions. Twelve (33.3%) patients answered that mental, physical, and financial burdens were the most important factors in life-sustaining treatment decisions, and there was a significant difference among the four groups (P<0.001). Twenty-four patients (66.7%), 27 (73.0%) family members, and 21(56.8%) nurses answered that physicians were the most appropriate people to provide information regarding life-sustaining treatment decisions. Unexpectedly, 19 (51.4%) physicians answered that hospice nurse practitioners were the most appropriate people to talk to about life-sustaining treatment (P<0.001). Conclusion: It is of utmost importance that the patient and physician determine when life-sustaining treatment should be withdrawn, with the patient making the ultimate decision. Doctors and nurses have the responsibility to provide detailed information. The goal of end-of-life planning is to ensure patients' dignity and respect their values.

• 성인간호학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.207-218
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the chronic patients' preferences for care near the end of life. Methods: This is a descriptive survey research, with subjects of 161 outpatients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus or chronic renal failure. Results: The majority of the subjects do not want meaningless life sustaining treatment and they report thinking positively about family or health care professional to participate in their end of life decision making process. Subjects reported preferring adequate pain management and spiritual support at the end of life. In regard to advance directives (ADs), those subjects with chronic disease report thinking positively about the necessity of ADs and its institutionalization. However, the subjects report not having the detailed information on the proper time and method of writing their ADs. Conclusion: Based on these results, educational programs on end of life decision making for chronic patients need to be developed. Also, the nurse should try to reflect the opinion of chronic patients as much as possible when make an end-of-life decision.

• 근관절건강학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.197-206
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate end-of-life care preferences of employees working in a university hospital. Methods: Of 650 eligible employees that were approached, 607 employees (386 nurses, 93 physicians, and 128 general staff) completed the Korean version of Preferences for Care Near the End of Life (PCEOL-K). Results: Among 5 dimensions of the PECOL-K, "Pain" was the most preferred care dimension and "Decision making by health care professional" was the least preferred care dimension. The item that received the highest mean score was "I want to let nature guide my dying and I do not want my life to be artificially prolonged in any way", and the lowest item was "I want health care providers to make all decisions about my care". As preferred care near the end of life, nurses gave lower scores to the life sustaining treatment and decision making by health care profession than physicians and general staff. Compared to physicians and nurses, general staff preferred the decision making by health care professional and by family. Conclusion: The results show that adequate pain relief is the most preferred care at the end of life among hospital employees and non-medical personnel preferred decision making by others.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제11권3호
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• pp.140-146
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• 2008

목적: 말기 암 환자의 증가, 노년인구의 증가, 연명치료기술의 발달 등으로 완치될 수 없는 질환을 가진 말기 환자에 대한 치료 결정(End of life decision making)은 늘어나고 있다. 하지만 이에 대한 의료진의 태도나 환자 및 보호자의 인식은 낮은 상태에 있고 이로 인해서 말기 환자에게 말기진정과 같은 결정이 필요한 경우에 있어서도 그 시행에 많은 제약이 있으며 때로는 잘못된 시행으로 윤리적으로 어긋나는 경우가 발생되고 있다. 이에 의과대학 교육과정을 통하여 말기 환자 치료 결정에 대한 올바른 태도 변화를 가져올 수 있으며, 미래 의료계의 주역이 될 의과대학생들이 말기진정을 포함하여 능동적 안락사, 의사조력자살, 연명치료 유보 및 중단 등 말기 환자 치료결정에 대해 어떠한 태도를 가지고 있는가를 알아보기 위하여 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방법: 2007년 6월 25일부터 6월 29일 사이에 1개 의과대학 본과 1, 2학년 학생과 임상 실습중인 3학년 학생 총 388명을 대상으로 능동적 안락사, 의사조력자살, 연명치료 유보 및 중단, 말기 진정 등 말기 환자 치료결정에 대한 태도와 인구사회학적 자료를 설문 조사하였다. 응답이 완료된 267명을 대상으로 말기 환자 치료결정에 대한 태도와 각 인자들 간의 관련성을 분석하였다. 결과: 일개 의과대학생 267명을 대상으로 시행한 설문 조사에서 능동적 안락사, 의사조력자살, 연명치료의 유보 및 중단, 말기 진정의 시행에 찬성하는 비율은 각각 37.1%, 21.7%, 58.4%, 60.3%, 41.6%였다. 이 비율은 각 항목의 윤리적 타당성에 대한 설문 결과와 유사하였다. 1학년보다는 3학년에서 능동적 안락사와 의사조력자살은 더 반대하였고, 연명치료 유보 및 중단, 말기 진정에 대해서는 더 찬성하였다. 종교 활동 시간이 많을수록 각 항목에 대한 찬성이 적었으며 교육 경험 유무, 특히 임상실습경험이 있는 3학년 학생에서 말기 진정에 더 많이 찬성하였다. 연령, 임종 환자 경험 유무가 태도에 미치는 영향은 없었다. 결론: 말기 환자 치료 결정의 구체적 임상 행위에 대한 의과대학생의 태도에 이전 연구에서처럼 종교 또는 교육이 말기 환자 치료 결정에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났으며 특히, 임상실습을 통한 교육경험이 태도 변화에 중요하였다.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제16권3호
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• pp.80-83
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• 2019

First of all, this study shows the legal issues of hospice and palliative care, and the legal basis for lifelong medical practice is generally derived from medical, civil and criminal law regulations, and is applied to patients who are severely ill and dying in principle. In addition, those what is particularly meaningful about hospice and palliative care in terms of legal aspects are discussed the determination of the purpose of care and the provision of medical adaptability and adult guardianship, in particular the legal criteria for the work and status of patient representatives. As such, the purpose of care is to form part of the contract of care and to be agreed between the patient and the physician. In addition, the patient may not write to his/her agent in advance, and the patient may admit discretionary powers to his/her agent, but the patient's will is to be considered. In conclusion, the medical institutional ethics committee should play an active role, especially in the case of no-agents/family or no intention of the patient.