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KMID : 1004620100160030085
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Clinical Nursing Research
2010 Volume.16 No. 3 p.85 ~ p.98
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Attitudes and Awareness towards the Withdrawal of Life-Sustaining Treatment among Nurses, Physicians, and Families of Intensive Care Unit Patients
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Lee Hyea-Kyung
Kang Hyun-Sook
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Abstract
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Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate the awareness and attitudes towards withdrawal of the life-sustaining treatment among nurses, physicians, and the families of intensive care unit (ICU) patients in general hospitals.
Methods: The data were collected using a questionnaire from 80 ICU nurses, 80 physicians, and 80 families of ICU patients in general hospitals. Data were collected from February 22nd to May 31st, 2010.
Rusults: ICU nurses, physicians, and families of ICU patients felt that objective and ethical guidelines were needed in making a decision to withdraw the life-sustaining treatment. The main reason for withdrawal of the life-sustaining treatment was found that the patients could not recovered despite many efforts. The role of nurses in decision making process on withdrawal of the life-sustaining treatment was considered very positive from the view of physicians and family members. The most important role of nurses for those patients in ICU was found to try their best to care for the patients.
Conclusion: ICU nurses should play a major coordinating role in communication among patients, their families, and medical teams. Also, an appropriate roles of nurses in the process of the withdrawal of the life-sustaining treatment should be established.
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KEYWORD
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Withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, Awareness, Attitude
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