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Liu M, Zhang T, Chen L, Liu Y, Yin A, Mei X, Qiu F. Intensive Care Unit Nurses' Attitudes Toward Truth-Telling, Life-Sustaining Treatment, and Decision-Making Intention for End-of-Life Patients: A Cross-sectional Survey. J Hosp Palliat Nurs 2024; 26:E46-E54. [PMID: 37976393 DOI: 10.1097/njh.0000000000000989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Truth-telling and life-sustaining treatment decisions are important elements of the quality of patients' care at the end of life. As the primary caregivers of patients at the end of life in intensive care units (ICUs), ICU nurses play an important role in patient decision making and hospice care. This study aimed to investigate and analyze ICU nurses' attitudes toward truth-telling, attitudes toward end-of-life life-sustaining treatment, and end-of-life decision-making behavioral intentions. One hundred twenty-two ICU nurses participated in this cross-sectional survey. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire. The results showed that ICU nurses' attitudes toward telling patients the truth and end-of-life life-sustaining treatment were both positive, but further improvement is needed. Nurses have a higher willingness to make palliative care decisions for patients at the end of life and to help patients achieve a good death. The truth-telling attitude, the life-sustaining treatment attitude, and whether they knew that cardiopulmonary resuscitation could be legally forgone at the end of life were factors influencing ICU nurses' behavioral intention toward decision making for patients at the end of life (all P s < .05). We conclude that nurses' participation in truth-telling and end-of-life decision making should be promoted, and timely hospice care should be provided to patients to help them achieve a good death.
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Chung JE, Karass S, Choi Y, Castillo M, Garcia CA, Shin RD, Tanco K, Kim LS, Hong M, Pan CX. Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Caring for Filipino American and Korean American Patients. J Palliat Med 2024; 27:104-111. [PMID: 37200523 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023] Open
Abstract
As of 2019, there are 4.2 million Filipino Americans (FAs) and 1.9 million Korean Americans (KAs) in the United States, largely concentrated in New York, California, Texas, Illinois, and Washington. In both populations, similar to the broader U.S. culture, one can find health literacy gaps around understanding and utilizing palliative care. In this article, we provide 10 cultural pearls to guide clinicians on how to sensitively approach FA and KA groups when addressing palliative and end-of-life (EOL) discussions. We fully celebrate that every person is an individual and care should be tailored to each person's goals, values, and preference. In addition, there are several cultural norms that, when appreciated and celebrated, may help clinicians to improve serious illness care and EOL discussions for members of these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny E Chung
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, Weill Cornell Medicine, Flushing, New York, USA
| | - Susan Karass
- Department of Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, Weill Cornell Medicine, Flushing, New York, USA
| | - Yoonhee Choi
- Department of Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, Weill Cornell Medicine, Flushing, New York, USA
| | - Matthew Castillo
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, Weill Cornell Medicine, Flushing, New York, USA
| | - Christine A Garcia
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Richard D Shin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, Weill Cornell Medicine, Flushing, New York, USA
| | - Kimberson Tanco
- Division of Cancer Medicine, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Laura S Kim
- Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York-Presbyterian Queens, Weill Cornell Medicine, Flushing, New York, USA
| | - Michin Hong
- School of Social Work, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Cynthia X Pan
- Division of Geriatrics and Palliative Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, Weill Cornell Medicine, Flushing, New York, USA
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Sun S, Zhang H, Xiong X. The attitudes about life-sustaining treatment among cardiac surgery ICU patients and their families. Front Surg 2023; 10:1079337. [PMID: 37273824 PMCID: PMC10235522 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2023.1079337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose To investigate the attitudes among cardiac surgery ICU patients and their families regarding life-sustaining treatment. Methods A total of 172 pairs of patients in the cardiac surgery ICU of Nanjing First Hospital and their family members were enrolled in this study that examined their attitudes toward life-sustaining treatment using a willingness to care for life-sustaining treatment questionnaire. The consistency of the attitudes of patients and family members toward life-sustaining treatment was analyzed by the chi-square test with a paired design. Results The most popular life-sustaining treatment for cardiac ICU patients was noninvasive mechanical ventilation (79.1%); the most unpopular was intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (48.3%). Most patients and their families had not considered electric defibrillation (65.7%), but most understood and were willing to permit cardiopulmonary resuscitation (76.2%). Few family members agreed that patients should receive a pacemaker (25.0%). The consistency of life support attitudes of patients and their families ranged from 12.8% to 60.5% for procedures both would agree to, 1.2% to 19.8% for procedures they were unwilling to permit, and 0.6% to 39.0% for procedures they had not considered. Kappa values ranged from 0.218 to 0.597 (P < 0.05), with general consistency. Conclusion Cardiac surgery ICU patients families are generally consistent in their attitudes toward life-sustaining treatment, and family members' choices are not representative of patients' wishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Sun
- Department of Nursing, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing City, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing City, China
| | - XiaoYan Xiong
- Department of Nursing, Nanjing First Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing City, China
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Nacak UA, Erden Y. End-of-Life Care and Nurse's Roles. Eurasian J Med 2022; 54:141-144. [PMID: 36655458 PMCID: PMC11163333 DOI: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2022.22324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Every individual who opens his/her eyes to life at birth closes eyes to death at the end of life. Every individual who is in the process of death wants to spend the last periods of his life as free from pain as possible, in a dignified and peaceful way. End-of-life care is provided by nurses, which aims to alleviate the suffering of individuals in the dying process and to provide patients with a good death experience. The continuation of treatment-oriented practices in the end-of-life period causes the inability to provide end-of-life care and patients suffer from unnecessary practices. Nurses who are in one-to-one contact with patients have important roles in making the decision to switch to end-of-life care and in providing end-of-life care to patients. In the present article, the concept of end-of-life care is examined, the difference between end-of-life care and palliative care, which are often confused, is discussed, and the purpose of end-of-life care and its importance for patients are emphasized. The roles and responsibilities of nurses in end-of-life care are also highlighted. It has been discussed that the roles of nurses are very important in the transition from treatment-oriented care to comfort-oriented end-of-life care, providing effective end-of-life care, and patients experiencing a good death with dignity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulviye Aydan Nacak
- Department of Nursing, Erzurum Teknik University Faculty of Health Sciences, , Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Yasemin Erden
- Department of Nursing, Erzurum Teknik University Faculty of Health Sciences, , Erzurum, Turkey
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Factors Influencing Older Adults' End-of-Life Care Preferences. J Hosp Palliat Nurs 2022; 24:E205-E211. [PMID: 35560146 DOI: 10.1097/njh.0000000000000879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to explore factors influencing Taiwanese older adults' end-of-life (EOL) care preferences. A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in 2 geriatric wards of a veterans' hospital. Fifty-five older adults aged 65 years or older were included. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data regarding demographic characteristics, EOL care preferences, stages of change for advance care planning behaviors, and reluctance to burden others. The study revealed that nearly 60% of the participants preferred to let their spouses, adult children, or health care professionals make the decisions. Furthermore, 83.6% of the participants lived with their family members and were moderately to severely disabled with a certain degree of dependence on their family members. Sex, independence, discussion of advance care planning with family members, and completion of advance directives were significantly correlated with EOL care preferences. The regression model showed that the participants' discussion of advance care planning with their family members influenced their EOL care preferences. The results demonstrate that family is an essential consideration for older adults choosing EOL care. Accordingly, because Chinese culture focuses on family harmony, improving communication between older adults and their family members is crucial for promoting advance care planning.
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