• 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.

• 중환자간호학회지
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• 제3권2호
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• pp.77-90
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• 2010

Purpose: The aim of this study is to carry out research on nurses regarding end of life decision and advance directives (ADs) and their attitude, experience and confidence towards them in order to define the role of nurses. Methods: In this research, questionnaire was distributed and data were collected and analyzed after receiving a written consent from 332 nurses. The survey was conducted from the $14^{th}$ to $30^{th}$ of September, 2009. The instrument used for conducting the study was revised version of KAESAD (The Knowledge, Attitudinal, Experiential Survey on Advance Directives). Results: We have come to a conclusion that nurses have positive attitude towards ADs. However, they hardly had any experience regarding them which leads to low confidence in assisting preparing ADs. Also, attitude towards ADs had no correlation with experience and confidence. Conclusion: In order to bring about the confidence level from positive attitude that nurses have, there needs to be a systematic change in nursing education. For that, it requires an education system that emphasizes the role of nurses which incorporates Korean culture and characteristics regarding death issue.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.42-50
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• 2015

목적: 본 연구는 장기요양 입소시설의 사회복지사를 대상으로 임종의료결정 권리, 사회복지사의 역할 이해도를 분석하고, 이들의 상관관계를 분석하고자 한다. 방법: 본 연구는 설문지를 사용하여 수집된 자료 334부 중 분석에 포함하기 어려운 37부를 제외한 297부를 SPSS 20.0을 이용하여 T-test, 분산분석, 상관관계분석 등을 실시하였다. 결과: 사회복지사가 이해하는 노인환자와 가족의 임종의료결정 권리 이해도는 5점 만점에 $3.46{\pm}0.69$, 사회복지사 역할 이해도는 $3.48{\pm}0.84$이다. 사회복지사의 사전의료의향서 및 연명치료 결정 도움 경험, 임종의료결정 도움 업무, 근무 경력, 침상 수 등에 따라 임종의료 결정 권리 및 사회복지사 역할 이해도에 의미 있는 수준에서 집단 간 차이를 보였다. 임종의료결정 권리와 사회복지사 역할 이해도와의 상관관계는 의미 있는 수준에서 긍정적인 상관관계를 보였다(Pearson r=0.329, P<0.001). 결론: 장기요양 입소시설에서 노인환자와 가족에게 사전의료의향서 및 연명치료 결정 도움을 제공하는 사회복지사 역할의 중요성을 인식하고, 노인환자와 가족의 임종의료결정 권리를 보호하기 위하여 임종의료결정에서의 사회복지사 역할 수행을 위한 교육이나 훈련 프로그램의 개발이 필요하다.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.41-49
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• 2010

목적: 본 연구는 간호사들의 임종기 동안의 치료 및 간호와 관련한 간호사 자신의 선호도를 확인하기 위하여 수행되었다. 방법: PCEOL-K를 이용하여 자료를 수집하였으며 본 도구는 미국에서 개발되고 한국판 표준화를 거친 도구이다. 연구대상자는 본 연구 참여를 허락한 일 종합병원의 간호사 200명이었으며 총 177매의 자료가 분석에 활용되었다. 결과: 본 연구 대상 간호사들은 임종기 치료 및 간호에 있어 통증관리 및 영적 요구지지에 대한 긍정적 선호도를, 의료인에 의한 치료 결정에 대해서는 부정적 선호도를 나타내었다. 결론: 본 연구 결과 간호사들은 임종기 치료 및 간호에서 개인의 자율성, 통증관리, 영적 요구 지지를 중요하게 생각하고 있었다. 앞으로 다양한 집단, 즉 의사, 환자, 가족들을 대상으로 각 집단별 선호도를 확인하는 노력이 요구된다.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.162-165
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• 2020

Purpose: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought the world to a standstill and has exposed the lack of preparedness of most nations' health care systems. Even in usual times, palliative care has not received its fair share of recognition as an important component of patient care; instead, the emphasis is often placed on aggressive patient management. Now, with the entire medical community and decision-making committees focussed on intensive patient care, end-of-life care has taken a backseat. Methods: This article is a brief communication. Results: COVID 19 infection has been shown to lead to greater mortality and morbidity in patients with pre-existing illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, renal failure, and cancer. Patients typically in need of end-of-life care, such as those with late-stage cancer or heart failure, are therefore at a higher risk of both contracting COVID-19 and suffering a more severe disease course. The strict nationwide lockdowns being imposed in most countries have deterred patients from seeking medical attention or hospice care. Every day new research is coming to light regarding COVID 19. This has helped significantly in creating awareness and limiting the spread of disease. However, misinformation is also rampant, leading to discrimination and mistreatment of infected patients. Conclusion: This pandemic has been a terrifying ordeal for all and has exposed our entire population physically, psychologically, emotionally, and financially to unimaginable stresses. In the present scenario, EOL care is as much a necessity as intensive care and should be given at least a fraction of its importance.

• 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.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.130-134
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• 2021

In the era of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), social distancing and strict visitation policies at hospitals have made it difficult for medical staff to provide high-quality end-of-life (EOL) care to dying patients and their families. There are various issues related to EOL care, including psychological problems of patients and their families, difficulties in EOL decision-making, the complicated grief of the bereaved family, moral distress, and exhaustion of medical staff. In relation to these issues, we aimed to discuss practical considerations in providing high-quality EOL care in the COVID-19 pandemic. First, medical staff should discuss advance care planning as early as possible and use the parallel planning strategy. Second, medical staff should play a role in facilitating patient-family communication. Third, medical staff should actively and proactively evaluate and alleviate dying patients' symptoms using non-verbal communication. Lastly, medical staff should provide care for family members of the dying patient, who may be particularly vulnerable to post-bereavement problems in the COVID-19 era. Establishing a system of screening high-risk individuals for complicated grief and connecting them to bereavement support services might be considered. Despite the challenging and limited environment, providing EOL care is essential for patients to die with dignity in peace and for the remaining family to return to life after the loved one's death. Efforts considering the practical issues faced by all medical staff and healthcare institutions caring for dying patients should be made.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2023

This paper aimed to summarize the current situation of prognostication for patients with an expected survival of weeks or months, and to clarify future research priorities. Prognostic information is essential for patients, their families, and medical professionals to make end-of-life decisions. The clinician's prediction of survival is often used, but this may be inaccurate and optimistic. Many prognostic tools, such as the Palliative Performance Scale, Palliative Prognostic Index, Palliative Prognostic Score, and Prognosis in Palliative Care Study, have been developed and validated to reduce the inaccuracy of the clinician's prediction of survival. To date, there is no consensus on the most appropriate method of comparing tools that use different formats to predict survival. Therefore, the feasibility of using prognostic scales in clinical practice and the information wanted by the end users can determine the appropriate prognostic tool to use. We propose four major themes for further prognostication research: (1) functional prognosis, (2) outcomes of prognostic communication, (3) artificial intelligence, and (4) education for clinicians.

• 기본간호학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.46-55
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify university students' willingness to write advance directives and factors related to this willingness. Method: A cross-sectional survey design was used and 400 nursing students and 287 non-nursing students participated in the study. Data were collected by convenience sampling using self-report questionnaires. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, correlation, and multiple regression. Results: The mean score for willingness to write advance directives was 4.09. From the multiple regression analysis, predictors of willingness to write advance directives were found to be majoring in nursing, awareness of advance directives, preference for autonomous decision making related to the end of life care, family preference related to the end of life care, and self esteem. Conclusion: The study results indicate that various factors are related to willingness to write advance directives and nurses need to consider client characteristics, knowledge, and own values when taking care of issues on advance directives.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

보라매 사건 이후 근 20년이 지나 국가위원회의 권고를 기반으로 연명의료결정법이 2018년 2월 4일 제정 시행되었다. 그러나 법률의 제정 과정에서 이해관계 당사자 및 관련자들의 의견 차이로 일부 내용은 수정 또는 삭제되었으며 제정 막바지에 호스피스 완화의료에 대한 내용이 덧붙여졌다. 이로 인해 국가위원회의 권고에 담긴 내용과는 일부 다르게 법률이 제정되어 여러 문제점들이 나타나고 있다. 그러므로 현행 법률 시행 초반 연명의료결정 수행 현장을 꼼꼼히 모니터링하고 다양한 관련자들의 의견을 잘 청취하여 문제점을 파악하고 해결 방안을 마련하여야 할 것이다. 이를 토대로 법률을 개정하여 입법 목적인 '환자의 최선의 이익을 보장하고 자기결정을 존중하여 인간으로서의 존엄과 가치를 보호'가 충실히 이루어질 수 있도록 하여야 할 것이다.