Decision and Practice of End-of-Life Care in Lung Disease Patients with Physicians Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment
10.14475/jhpc.2023.26.1.7
- Author:
Yu Mi OH
1
;
Yoon Na KANG
;
Soo Jung HAN
;
Jeong Hye KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Nursing, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2023;26(1):7-17
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:The purpose of this study was to analyze end-of-life care practices in lung disease patients with physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLSTs).
Methods:We retrospectively analyzed data from medical records regarding the end-of-life care practices of POLST decisions for patients with lung disease hospitalized at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, South Korea. Data were collected from January 1 to June 30, 2021.
Results:Of 300 total patients, 198 had lung cancer (66.0%) and 102 had non-malignant lung diseases (34.0%). A POLST was written for 187 patients (62.3%), and an advance directive was written for 20 patients (6.7%). Subsequent treatments were hemodialysis in 13 patients (4.3%), surgery in 3 patients (1.0%), and cardiopulmonary cerebral resuscitation in 1 patient (0.3%). Among cancer patients, chemotherapy was performed in 11 patients (3.7%), targeted therapy in 11 patients (3.7%), immunotherapy in 6 patients (2.0%), and radiation therapy in 13 patients (4.3%). Depending on the type of lung disease, types of treatment differed, including hemodialysis, ventilators, bilevel positive airway pressure, high-flow nasal cannulas, nebulizers, enteral nutrition, central line, inotropic agents, and opioids. onclusion: Although the goals of hospice care are the same whether a patient has lung cancer or a nonmalignant lung disease, because the characteristics of the respective diseases differ, end-oflife care practices and hospice approaches must be considered differently.
