One of the dilemmas concerning end of life care is that expensive medical treatments are delivered to prolong lives without significant improvement in quality of life. The purpose of this study is to explore factors that may be associated with the wishes for life-sustaining treatments (LST) among a group of residents lived in a veteran?s home in central Taiwan.
A total of 131 relative healthy elders, age ranged from 68 to 98, were interviewed by a trained nurse practitioner. The respondents were presented pictures and a detailed descriptions of three types of LST, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), breathing machines, and tube feeding, before soliciting their opinions regarding the use of LST under five different scenarios. The respondents? wish for LST was
correlated with their demographic characteristics, health status measures, Will to live, Fear of death, social support, and influences from past experiences.
Results indicate that, for this old sample of elders (nearly 82 years old in average), less medical intervention of any kind is the norm. For the ?diagnosed of cancer with a good chance of recovery?
scenario, 69.5% of the respondents would decline tube feeding if they were unable to swallow.
Percentages for declining breathing machine and CPR were 76.3% and 76.4%, respectively. Plus, those who perceived their health improved (compared to a year ago) and those who rated their health better than that of their peers were more likely to wish for LST.
Key word: life sustaining treatments, Do-Not-Resuscitate, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, will to live, fear of dying and death
