• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.25 no.1
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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It is of utmost importance that the patient and physician determine when life-sustaining treatment should be withdrawn, with the patient making the ultimate decision.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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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.34-41
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the reason to select complementary and alternative therapy for terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: The data were collected from 21 terminal cancer patients and families through the in-depth interview. Data analysis were performed by the Colaizzi's phenomenological method (1976). Results: The reason to select complementary and alternative therapy for terminal cancer patients and families was then categorized with 4 elements; Awareness of limitations in contemporary medical treatments, Belief in effectiveness of the CAM, Satisfaction with emotional needs of family members, and Disbelief due to negative attitudes of physicians. The result indicated the following 9 themes expectation for a complete cure, uncertainty in hospital treatments, complementary method for management of side effect of chemotherapy, alleviation of symptoms and life-sustaining, fear for side effects of cancer treatments, belief in earned information, referrals by other, responsibility of family, and dissatisfaction with negatine attitudes of physicians. Conclusion: Physicians should provide a sufficient explanation and try to effectively communicate with clients about hospice and palliative service and the CAM. We strongly realized that concerns about patients' best care and satisfactions with family's needs should be understood.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.55-66
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• 1990

This research is focused on the attitudes toward dying and hospice. 4subjects groups are Ca. patient, Ca. patien's family, elderly, medical personnel. A 40 questionare was filled out by each participant. For this study chi-square and T-test was done. The result were as follows : 1. Telling the truth 61.2% of all subject groups agreed upon telling the impending death. About 40% of elderly groups and cancer patient group were disagreed which is the highest percentage in all groups. Particularly medical personnel group were remarkably high in telling the truth. 2. Attitudes of medical personnels 43.3% of all groups agreed upon medical personnels prefer to avoid dying patient. In medical personnel group. 44% of respondents disagred comparably higher than other group. But 37.7% of medical personnel agreed. It showed that medical personnels admitted their negative feelings toward dying patient in considerable degree. 3. Attitudes toward mechanical assistance for life-expanding or hopeless patient. 44.8% of all groups disagreed upon mechanical assistance for hopeless case. Elderly (54.9%) and medical personnels (50%) disagreed, which is higher than cancer patient (33.3%) and (22.8%) of cancer patient's family. 4. Special facility and educational preperation for dying patient. 67.4% of all groups agreed upon the needs of special facility for dying, 81.3% of medical personnels agreed which is highest percentage in all group. 5. Attitudes of family members of dying patient. 82.3% of all groups agreed upon the family members feel annoyed at dying patient. 34% of cancer patient's family member and 48% of cancer patients group agreed, but elderly group showed highest percentage(84%). 6. Perception of dying patient about imminent death. 58.3% of all group thought dying patients are aware of their impanding death even though they had not beent told. 77.3% of medical personnel agreed which is highest percentage in all group.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-92
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• 2017

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by persistent airflow limitation that is usually progressive. It is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, leading to substantial and increasing economic and social burden. Palliative care for COPD patients aims to reduce symptoms and exacerbations and improve exercise tolerance and quality of life. It is difficult to make a prognosis for COPD patients due to the variable illness trajectory and advanced care of patients. However, severity of breathlessness, assessment of lung function impairment, and frequency of exacerbations can help to identify palliative care needs and determine effective methods to mitigate symptoms, which is discussed in this paper. In these patients, it is recommended to provide individualized palliative care along with curative/restorative care at the onset of COPD symptoms. Before launching a palliative care system in Korea, it is necessary to prepare pulmonary rehabilitation resources, patient-centered communication, timely palliative responsiveness, and a program for effective advanced care planning. A multidisciplinary approach involving collaboration with not only the respiratory and palliative care teams but also primary care offers a new model of care for these patients and should be considered with a priority.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.136-145
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• 2002

Purpose : This study was designed to develop an instrument that could be used for comprehensive and effective need assessment for patients with cancer. Methods : In the first phase, a conceptual framework for the instrument was established by Wingate & Lackey (1989). In the second phase, the preliminary instrument was drawn up through a review of the literature and in consultation with three professors in Nursing. In the third phase validity and reliability of the preliminary instrument were tested as follows; 1) an expert validity test of the preliminary instrument was done by nine head nurses and charge nurses who had over ten years experience caring for patients with cancer at Wonju Christian Hospital. 2) A construct validity test and reliability test was done for the instrument by 116 staff nurses selected by convience sampling from hospitals located in Kang-Won, Kyoung-Ki, and Choong-Chung Provinces. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 10.0 WIN program. For the factors of the instrument, factor analysis was used. The reliability of the scale was analyzed by Cronbach's alpha. Results : The results of the experts' test of validity, showed that, of 32 items, only one item had less than 55.4%. It was then deleted and a total of 31 items was selected. On the basis of the results of the factor analysis, the following six components were identified: physiological, informational, spiritual, and emotional needs, available resources, and legal/financial needs. These factors explained 61.8% of the variance. In the factor analysis, the first factor (physiological needs) and the second factor (informational needs) explained 25.4% and 10.9% of the variance respectively, which were major factors for the needs of patients with cancer in Korea. Cronbach' alpha for the scale was .90 indicating internal reliability. Conclusion : This instrument can be effectively utilized for assessment of needs of patients with cancer in Korea. Use of the needs assessment instrument developed in this study will allow nurses to develop nursing interventions that provide comprehensiveness and continuity in meeting the needs of patients with cancer.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.153-160
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate needs and satisfaction on the medical services of cancer patients in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Methods: Total 174 cancer patients, who visited at the clinic of Jeju National University Hospital, submitted informed consent and participated in this study from July 13 to July 30, 2009. Self questionnaire was used and data were analyzed with Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Mann-Whitney U test, ANOVA, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results: Participants expressed the needs of most economical support (3.38 out of 4), followed by counseling of treatment plan (3.22), information of disease (3.07), and disease management except cancer (2.97). Participants were satisfied most with religious counseling (3.41), followed by nursing service support (3.39), employment counseling (3.26), and counseling for family or interpersonal relationships (3.26). The satisfaction of economical support was the lowest (1.98). Satisfaction of men was higher than women, and needs in patients who were living with children was the highest. Patients who were living alone or with children showed the lowest satisfaction about the medical services. There were no significant differences in the general characteristics, however, participants who were older than 60 years of age or had higher income showed lower needs and higher satisfaction. There were no significant differences in the medical characteristics, however, thyroid cancer patients and patients who were treated with radiation therapy or transarterial embolization showed low satisfaction. Conclusion: Cancer patients seemed to need more economical support, information of treatment or disease, and symptom management. Furthermore, there were various needs about the services, depending on family formation or economical support of patients. Therefore, it is certain that patients who were suffering from other cancers, except the 5 major cancers, needed more services. In conclusion, continuous and systemic policy to consider patient's characteristics and needs are needed in community as well as health care system.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

This article underscores the importance of integrating comprehensive palliative care for noncancer patients who are undergoing hemodialysis, with an emphasis on the aging populations in Asian nations such as Taiwan, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and China. As the global demographic landscape shifts towards an aging society and healthcare continues to advance, a marked increase has been observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis who require palliative care. This necessitates an immediate paradigm shift to incorporate this care, addressing the intricate physical, psychosocial, and spiritual challenges faced by these individuals and their families. Numerous challenges impede the provision of effective palliative care, including difficulties in prognosis, delayed referrals, cultural misconceptions, lack of clinician confidence, and insufficient collaboration among healthcare professionals. The article proposes potential solutions, such as targeted training for clinicians, the use of telemedicine to facilitate shared decision-making, and the introduction of time-limited trials for dialysis to overcome these obstacles. The integration of palliative care into routine renal treatment and the promotion of transparent communication among healthcare professionals represent key strategies to enhance the quality of life and end-of-life care for people on hemodialysis. By embracing innovative strategies and fostering collaboration, healthcare providers can deliver more patient-centered, holistic care that meets the complex needs of seriously ill patients within an aging population undergoing hemodialysis.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2017

Purpose: Adequate control of breakthrough pain is essential for patients with cancer. Managing breakthrough pain mainly depends on understanding the concept of breakthrough pain and the proper usage of rescue medication by physicians. This study aims to assess the attitudes and practice patterns of palliative physicians in managing breakthrough pain for patients in Korea. Methods: This study was based on data from the 2014 breakthrough cancer pain survey conducted by the Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care. One hundred physicians participated in the online survey. Among total 33 self-reported questionnaires, twelve items were selected in this analysis. Results: Rapid onset of action is the main influencing factor in selecting rescue opioids. Oral oxycodone (65%) and parenteral morphine (27%) are commonly used. A few physicians (3%) prefer to use transmucosal fentanyl. The percentage of physicians prescribing oral oxycodone due to its rapid onset of action is just 21.5%, whereas the percentage of physicians using parenteral morphine is 81.5%. Two thirds of respondents (66%) answered that breakthrough pain is not well controlled with rescue medications. Conclusion: There is a gap between the needs of physicians in terms of the perceived difficulties of managing breakthrough cancer pain and their practice patterns selecting rescue medications.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.321-331
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to establish well-dying education, well-dying culture, and industrialization for well-aging. For this, data was collected through Gallup Korea from February 1, 2021 to February 22, 2021. As a result of the study, well-dying education experience was 4.7%, and education satisfaction was surveyed with 2.88 points out of 5. As a result of analyzing the needs of well-dying education according to the age groups, the educational demands of youth and middle-aged were in the order of hospice education and information, life-sustaining medical information, and funeral information. In the case of the young old, it was in the order of hospice education and information, funeral information, and psychological overcoming related to death. In the case of the elderly, the survey was conducted in the order of hospice education and information, funeral information, and life-care related information. The perception of industrialization related to the well-dying culture was inspected in the order of the well-dying café where you can talk about life and death, the well-dying experience such as the entrance experience, and the development of travel products related to culture and art (p<0.05). Such results can be usefully utilized in the development of well-dying education programs for well aging, cultural spreading, and industrialization.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.156-165
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• 2019

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify subjective attitudes towards terminal patients in nursing students who had clinical practice. The types of subjective attitude were classified by applying Q methodology. According to those types, basic reference data for the development of educational programs were provided. Methods: Thirty-four final Q samples were selected, and Q classification with a nine-point scale was performed with P samples of 43 nursing students. A key factor analysis was conducted with the collected data using the PC QUANAL program. Results: Nursing students' attitudes towards terminal patients were grouped into three types. The total variable was 49.96%. Students with Type 1 ("wish for life-sustaining medical treatment") thought that terminal patients accurately understood their medical condition and wanted to prolong their lives. Others with Type 2 ("need for service and support") believed that a multidisciplinary nursing system needs to be established to help terminal patients prepare for death. Students with Type 3 ("awareness and acceptance of death") thought that terminal patients wanted to die with dignity at a hospice unit. Conclusion: This study analyzed various types of attitude towards terminal patients, as perceived by nursing students with clinical training experience. Development of educational programs for each attitude type analyzed in this study could contribute to systematic training programs for nursing students caring for terminal patients.