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Patients’ attitude and knowledge towards resuscitation and advance care planning at the palliative care unit
Author(s) -
Unseld Matthias,
Gager Gloria M.,
Adamidis Feroniki,
Kitta Anna,
RoiderSchur Sophie,
Watzke Herbert H.,
Masel Eva Katharina
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.13109
Subject(s) - medicine , resuscitation , ambivalence , palliative care , advance care planning , nursing , qualitative research , perception , family medicine , emergency medicine , psychology , social psychology , social science , neuroscience , sociology
Abstract Objective There is a lack of information about patients’ attitudes towards and knowledge of resuscitation and advance care planning (ACP) in the palliative care unit (PCU). The aims of this study were to examine (a) patients’ attitudes towards and knowledge of the topic of resuscitation, (b) patients’ level of education about their illness and (c) their concept of ACP. Methods This study used a qualitative methodology that involved semi‐structured interviews with advanced cancer patients admitted to the PCU. Interviews were conducted during the first week after admission, recorded digitally and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed through content analysis using NVivo 12. Results Eighteen interviews revealed the following themes: (a) ambivalence regarding preference for or refusal of resuscitation, (b) patient confidence concerning their level of education, (c) lack of information about ACP and (d) positive perception of the stay in the PCU. The data showed that a high percentage of PCU patients desired resuscitation even though education about their illness was mostly perceived as good. Many patients did not receive information about ACP. Patients perceived the stay in the PCU positively. Conclusion The study results reveal that there is lack of knowledge about ACP and resuscitation in patients in the PCU.