Limitation of Futile Therapy in the Opinion of Nursing Staff Employed in Polish Hospitals—Results of a Cross-Sectional Study
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15467623 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Maria Damps (0000-0001-8723-6865, Medical University of Silesia, corresponding author), Maksymilian Gajda (0000-0003-2240-3575, Medical University of Silesia), Małgorzata Kowalska (0000-0002-4336-1549, Medical University of Silesia), Ewa Kucewicz‐Czech (0000-0002-9285-6310, Medical University of Silesia), Ewa Kucewicz-Czech (Medical University of Silesia) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue | 24 |
| Pages | 16975-16975 |
| Publication date | 2022-12-17 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601 |
| Publisher | Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH) |
| DOI | 10.3390/ijerph192416975 |
| PMID | 36554855 |
| OpenAlex | W4312195598 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 24 |
The debate on limiting futile therapy in the aspect of End of Life (EoL) care has been going on in Poland over the last decade. The growing demand for EoL care resulting from the aging of societies corresponds to the expectation of a satisfactory quality of life and self-determination. The authors designed a cross-sectional study using a newly designed questionnaire to assess the opinions of 190 nurses employed in intensive care units (ICUs) on futile therapy, practices, and the respondents' approach to the issue. The problem of futile therapy and its clinical implications are known to the nursing community. Among the most common reasons for undertaking futile therapy in adult patients, the respondents declared fear of legal liability for not taking such actions (71.58%), as well as fear of being accused of unethical conduct (56.32%), and fear of talking to the patient/patient's family and their reaction (43.16%). In the case of adult patients, the respondents believed that discontinuation of futile therapy should be decided by the patient (84.21%), followed by a doctor (64.21%). As for paediatric patients, two-thirds of the respondents mentioned a doctor and a court (64.74% and 64.21%, respectively). Overall, 65.26% of the respondents believe and agree that the comfort of the patient's last days is more important than the persistent continuation of therapy and prolonging life at all costs. The presented results clearly show the attitude of the respondents who defend the patient's dignity and autonomy
Autonomy · Cross-sectional study · Dignity · Discontinuation · Family medicine · Health care · Liability · Palliative care · Psychiatry · Quality of life (healthcare · Reimbursement · Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare · Ethics in medical practice · Medicine · Nursing · Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
| Citations per year | 0.33 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2023 - 2023 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |