A comparative analysis of hong general public and professional nurses’ attitude towards advance directives and the use of life-sustaining treatment in end-of-life care

Abstract

本研究目的是分析香港市民和注册护士 对预前指示的态度和使用时所考虑的因素,及他们对垂死病患者采用维持生命治疗的看法。结果显示年龄和学历高的受访者普遍接受预前指示,市民和护士的看法不 同。预前指示普及已是社会的趋势,但现时社会预前指示的理解如维持生命治疗的决策过程仍模糊不清,唯医护人员的理解较深。因此,医护人员对预前指示这一概 念的推广和教育上应兼付什么责任的问题值得思考。 The purpose of this study is to analyze the attitude of the Hong Kong general public and professional nurses towards advance directives,factors associated with the preference of advance directives,and their attitude towards life-sustaining treatments.Results showed that Respondents who were young and attained high educational level were more accepted by Hong Kong society,however,public understanding of issues requiring advance directives such as decision making on life-sustaining treatments is still superficial.The results showed that nursing professionals had a more realistic appreciation of the limits of life-sustaining treatment in end-of-life care.Further expansion of the role of medical and nursing profession in assuming responsibility to promote and educate the public regarding the concept of advance directives is suggested.