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Lee, Choi, and Park: Awareness and Ethical Attitudes Toward 'Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR)' for Cancer Patients
Original Article

Asian Oncology Nursing 2014; 14(1): 32-40.

Published online: 31 March 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5388/aon.2014.14.1.32

Awareness and Ethical Attitudes Toward 'Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR)' for Cancer Patients

Joo Yeon Lee1, Eun Hee Choi2, Kyung Sook Park3

1Nursing Department, Chung-ang University Healthcare System, Seoul, Korea.

2Department of Nursing, Korean Bible University, Seoul, Korea.

3Department of Nursing, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Choi, Eun Hee. Department of Nursing, Korean Bible University, 32 Dongil-ro (st) 214-gil, Nowon-gu, Seoul 139-791, Korea. Tel: +82-2-950-5536, Fax: +82-2-950-5408, ichoi9201@hanmail.net

Received 25 January 2014       Accepted 25 March 2014

© 2014 Korean Oncology Nursing Society

(open-access):

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Purpose

This descriptive study was conducted to investigate awareness and attitudes toward 'Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR)'.

Methods

Study data were collected from July 24 to September 30, 2011 using structured questionnaires. Study subjects were 209 patients suffering from cancer at "C" Univ. hospital located in Seoul and Cancer Patient Coalition in Seoul. The purpose of the study was explained directly to them. All the data of 209 questionnaires were collected and analyzed without dropping out.

Results

In terms of awareness toward DNR, 61.5% said DNR is "necessary" because "their recoveries are impossible" (51.7%) and "they want dignified deaths" (41.1%). When it comes to ethical attitudes toward DNR according to demographic characteristics, there were significant differences both between genders (p<.032) on "Medical staff should tell hopeless patients their conditions openly" and between level of education and monthly income (p<.013) on "DNR decision should be made according to the guideline, if needed".

Conclusion

The result of this study suggests that decisions on DNR should be made not by only families and doctors but by patients themselves as well. For this, sufficient explanations and education programs for DNR need to be developed and DNR decision including both patient's and family's demand should be standardized.

Keywords: DNR, Cancer, Ethics, Awareness, Attitude

Figures and Tables

Table 1
General Characteristics of Subjects (N=209)
aon-14-32-i001

Note. Missing data excluded.

Table 2
Understandings and Attitudes about DNR (N=209)
aon-14-32-i002

Note. Missing data excluded.

Table 3
Ethical Attitudes about DNR (N=209)
aon-14-32-i003

Note. Missing data excluded.

Table 4
Ethical Awareness about DNR by General Characteristics (N=209)
aon-14-32-i004

Note. Missing data excluded.

BDMS=basic duty of medical staffs; U & N=Uncertainty & negligence.

Table 5
Ethical Attitudes about DNR by General Characteristics (N=209)
aon-14-32-i005

Note. Missing data excluded.

Notes

This article is based on a part of the first author's master's thesis from Chung-Ang University.

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