Recognition of Patients, Families, Nurses, and Physicians about Clinical Decision-making and Biomedical Ethics

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To identify the recognition of patients, families, nurses, and physicians about clinical decision-making and biomedical ethics. METHODS: Data were collected from October 23 to 30, 2012 using the structured questionnaires. A total of 200 data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 version. RESULTS: Response about 'who should receive the first notice of a cancer diagnosis?' was significant difference statistically. Cancer patients had preferences to be notified their diagnosis first. Patients responded the person who made decision of treatment options would be physician first and then themselves. Families, nurses, and physicians answered that decision-maker would be both of patient and family. All four groups answered that the person who made decision about care-giver after discharge was patient and their family. Nurses and physicians who didn't aware of the advanced directive were over 30.0%, and patients and family who didn't aware of that were over 60.0%. Lastly, the rate of positive answer about making attempt of advanced directive after legalization was over 80.0%. CONCLUSION: Patient's attitude about making decisions is different from family's attitude. Nurses and physicians have to put emphasis on the patient's autonomy & self-determination and family members' needs.