Attitudes and Opinions of Elderly Patients and Family Caregivers on End-of-Life Care Discussion

Abstract

Background : End-of-life (EOL) care decisions have become an urgent issue in Korea in response to recent legislation called the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision Act of 2016. The present study attempted to explore attitudes and opinions on EOL discussion among elderly patients and their family caregivers since communication regarding EOL care has been argued to be a major premise leading to the best decision making. Methods : The attitudes and opinions of elderly patients and their family caregivers were solicited through focus group interviews. The final sample consisted of 12 patients and 16 family members. Results : Guided by content analysis, 5 themes were revealed. The identified themes were individual approach for delivering bad news and stakeholders involved in the discussion, contradictory attitudes toward advance care planning, mutual understanding, hope for the EOL care discussion process, and resistance to discussion of hospice-palliative care. Conclusion : Study findings suggested that an approach focusing on the individualized needs of patients and family members is required in EOL care discussion for elderly patients.

Keywords

• Elderly
• End-of-life care
• Communication
• Advance care planning