• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.159-169
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• 2023

This study analyzed the factors affecting the opinions of life-sustaining treatment among the elderly in Korea. The study subjects were 10,097 people who responded to the survey on the condition of the elderly (2020), and using the SPSS 25.0 program, first, the demographic characteristics of the research subjects were identified through descriptive statistics and the average and normality of major variables were identified. Second, the chi-square was analyzed by conducting a cross-analysis of opinions on life-sustaining treatment according to the characteristics of the elderly. Third, a correlation analysis was performed to analyze the correlation between major variables. Fourth, the relative influence on the life-sustaining treatment of the elderly was identified through multiple regression analysis. The main research findings are as follows. First, 8,565 (84.8%) of the elderly were opposed to medical treatment (life-sustaining treatment) to save them even if they were unconscious or difficult to live. Second, as a result of cross-analysis on life-sustaining treatment for the elderly, the 𝑥² values of education level, health status, living together with children, and cost of living in old age were found to be significant. Third, the educational level of the elderly, living together with children, and the cost of living in old age were found to have statistically significant negative effects on life-sustaining treatment. Such research results indicate that the elderly with a high level of education oppose life-sustaining treatment compared to those with a low level of education. In addition, in the case of the elderly with traditional values who responded that one of their children should live with the elderly (parents), the ratio of people in favor of life-sustaining treatment was high, and in the case of the elderly with modern values who responded that they did not have to live together, the ratio of opposition to life-sustaining treatment was high. appeared to be high. In addition, in the case of the elderly with traditional values who responded that the burden of living expenses in old age should be shared between the state and society and their children, the proportion in favor of life-sustaining treatment was high. This high figure expressed the desire for well-dying. Based on these research results, the value system was re-examined as a factor influencing the elderly's opinion on life-sustaining treatment, and basic data for welfare policies for the elderly were provided.