End-of-Life Decision Making in Older Korean Adults: Concerns,Preferences, and Expectations |
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| Authors: | Eunjeong Ko Holly Nelson-Becker Youngjoon Park Minjung Shin |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Social Work, San Diego State University , San Diego , California , USA eko@mail.sdsu.edu;3. School of Social Work, Loyola University Chicago , Chicago , Illinois , USA;4. Department of Social Welfare , Daegu University , Jilyang Gyeongsan , Gyeonbuk , South Korea;5. Department of Social Welfare , Susung College , Suseong-gu , Daegu Metropolitan , South Korea |
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| Abstract: | This study explored Korean older adults’ concerns and preferences regarding end-of-life care and the expected role of physicians in the decision making process. The purpose was to assist health care professionals, in particular, physicians, to better understand how to interact with Korean older adults. A qualitative method using in-person interviews was conducted with Korean older adults (N = 54). The seven main themes generated in this study included the following: (a) life-sustaining treatments and hope for quality of life; (b) physician expert status; (c) truth telling and ethics; (d) preferred way to disclose bad news; (e) physician's role to treat, (f) potential misuse of life-sustaining treatments; and (g) priority of patients’ preferences. Overall, study participants generally anticipated a larger role for physicians in their own end-of-life decision making, though some expressed concerns about the outcome of giving such power to physicians, especially in agreeing to life-sustaining treatments. Although culture provides one important clue about expectations, it is always crucial for health care providers to ask about individual preferences and to develop an open communication style to decrease distress. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding concerns and preferences regarding end-of-life care among Korean older adults and the importance of assisting them in planning end-of-life care within a cultural framework. |
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