Factors That Influence Attitudes toward Advance Directives among Female Cancer Patients

Purpose

This study aimed to identify attitudes toward advance directives (ADs) among female cancer patients and factors related to ADs.

Methods

The study was conducted at a university hospital in Seoul from September 19, 2020, to January 20, 2021. The participants were 153 patients diagnosed with gynecological cancer or breast cancer. Data were collected using questionnaires and included general characteristics, disease- and AD-related characteristics, knowledge and attitudes about ADs, and attitudes about dignified death. Data were analyzed using the t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple regression analysis.

Results

Only 2% of the participants completed ADs. The mean score for attitudes toward ADs was 3.30, indicating a positive knowledge and attitude toward dignified death. The factors related to attitudes toward ADs were attitudes toward dignified death (β=0.25, P=0.001), experience discussing life-sustaining treatment (β=0.17, P=0.037), preferred time to have a consultation about ADs (β=0.19, P=0.046), intention to write ADs (β= 0.15, P=0.038), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (β=-0.37, P<0.001). The explanatory power of these variables for attitudes toward ADs was 38.5%.

Conclusion

Overall, patients preferred to have a consultation about ADs when they were still active, mentally healthy, and able to make decisions. Education about ADs should be provided to patients on the first day of hospitalization for chemotherapy or while awaiting treatment in an outpatient setting so patients can write ADs and discuss them with family and friends.

The Relationships Between Oncology Nurses' Attitudes Toward a Dignified Death, Compassion Competence, Resilience, and Occupational Stress in South Korea

OBJECTIVES

In recent years, South Korea has become more concerned about a dignified death and the 'well-dying' law has been enacted. Oncology nurses' perceptions of death are crucial in maintaining dying patients' sense of dignity; fostering their physical, mental, and spiritual quality of life; and ensuring that they die a comfortable death. This study accordingly examined the relationships between attitudes towards a dignified death, compassion competence, resilience, and occupational stress to provide basic data to promote better attitudes towards death among oncology nurses in South Korea.

DATA SOURCES

This study, conducted between 2 to 31 January 2018, adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design. Oncology nurses (N = 329) participated, and the differences in their attitudes towards a dignified death correlating to their demographic and work-related characteristics were analysed using t-tests and analyses of variance. Pearson's correlations were used to examine the relationships between nurses' attitudes towards a dignified death, compassion competence, resilience, and occupational stress.

CONCLUSION

Participants' attitudes towards a dignified death were weaker than those of the general population but stronger than those of non-oncology nurses. Attitudes towards a dignified death were significantly correlated with compassion competence and resilience-traits that appear to enable nurses' efficient response to various stressful situations.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Educational programmes should promote nurses' compassion competence and resilience. Nurses should receive death-related education to reduce the stress that arises from providing end-of-life care and enhance their attitudes towards a dignified death.