Preferences for advance directives in Korea

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Public Health
• Gerontology

Background:

• Advance directives aim to preserve patient dignity and autonomy in end-of-life medical treatment decisions.
• Understanding public preferences is crucial for effective implementation of these directives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the preferences of the general population in Korea regarding advance directives.
• To assess the importance placed on patient autonomy and dignity in end-of-life care.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted in Seoul, Korea.
• 336 adult participants completed self-administered questionnaires.
• Data were analyzed using SPSS 17.0.

Main Results:

• Participants desired detailed explanations and recommendations from healthcare providers on end-of-life care.
• Most preferred foregoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and artificial nutrition/hydration when death was imminent.
• Pain management was a high priority for most subjects.

Conclusions:

• A significant interest in advance directives exists among the Korean population.
• Patient autonomy and dignity are increasingly valued in end-of-life care.
• Education on advance directives and proactive patient-provider communication is recommended for healthcare professionals.