• Li N Liu, Chen H Chen, Tsang W Liu, Yu C Lin, Shiuyu C K Lee, and Siew T Tang.
• Author Affiliations: Department of Nursing, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan (Dr Liu); Department of Nursing, Kang-Ning Junior College of Medical Care and Management, and School of Nursing, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan (Ms Chen); National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Taipei, Taiwan (Dr Liu); Department of Nursing, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan (Dr Lin); Department of Nursing, National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Science, Taiwan (Dr Lee); School of Nursing, Medical College, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan (Dr Tang).
• Cancer Nurs. 2015 May 1; 38 (3): E9-E18.

BackgroundStudies on factors influencing preferences for aggressive end-of-life (EOL) care have focused predominantly on preferred goals of EOL and seldom comprehensively incorporate patients' predisposing, enabling, and need factors into their analyses.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of preferences for a wide range of aggressive EOL care from the aforementioned factors.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience sample of 2329 terminally ill cancer patients recruited from 23 hospitals throughout Taiwan.ResultsAmong these Taiwanese terminally ill cancer patients, 8.2% preferred prolonging life as their goal for EOL care. When combining those who wanted and those who were undecided as wanting that specific treatment, 27.9% preferred cardiopulmonary resuscitation when their life was in danger, and 36.0%, 27.3%, 24.3%, and 26.7% preferred to receive care at intensive care unit, cardiac massage, intubation, and mechanical ventilation support, respectively. Those at risk of preferring aggressive EOL care were men, younger than 45 years, married, diagnosed within 6 months, and with comorbidity and their physician had not accurately disclosed their prognosis or discussed EOL care issues to/with them.ConclusionsFew Taiwanese terminally ill cancer patients preferred to prolong life as their goal for EOL care, cardiopulmonary resuscitation when their life was in danger, and life-sustaining treatments at EOL. Preferences for aggressive EOL care are determined by patients' predisposing, enabling, and need factors.Implications For PracticeTerminally ill cancer patients at risk of preferring aggressive EOL care should receive interventions to help them appropriately weigh the burdens and benefits of such aggressive treatments.

39 keywords...

hide…