Questionnaire Survey of Medical Staff and Community Dwellers on End-of-life Care / 日本農村医学会雑誌

ABSTRACT

We conducted a questionnaire survey of 525 persons regarding end-of-life care (EoLC) between November and December 2017. A total of 495 individuals responded (response rate 94.3%). Respondents were grouped into either a medical staff (MS) group or community persons (CP) group. Significant differences were found between the MS and CP groups in implementing a family conference about EoLC (p＜0.05), but not in preparing documents about personal preferences for EoLC. There were significant differences between the groups in medical treatments in EoLC, for example, total parenteral nutrition, enteral nutrition via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, and mechanical ventilation with intubation (p＜0.05). It is important that medical treatment in EoLC should meet the requirements of patients and their families. This study revealed differences in some aspects of EoLC between the MS and CP groups. Individuals should be supported in personally making decisions about their own EoLC.