Nurses' attitudes towards developing a do not resuscitate policy in Japan

Area of Science:

• Nursing Ethics
• End-of-Life Care Policy

Background:

• Limited end-of-life care policies in Japan.
• Frequent initiation of life-prolonging treatments without patient consent.
• Growing public concern regarding end-of-life care decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore Japanese nurses' attitudes towards developing a do not resuscitate (DNR) policy.
• To identify cultural considerations for implementing DNR policies in Japan.
• To provide recommendations for nurses to improve end-of-life decision-making.

Main Methods:

• Two questionnaire surveys administered to 127 Japanese nurses.
• Presentation of a hypothetical DNR policy model.
• Analysis of nurses' responses regarding policy acceptance and cultural congruence.

Main Results:

• Nurses supported the hypothetical DNR policy model as an ideal approach.
• Nurses identified a cultural variance between the proposed policy and Japanese societal norms.
• Nurses recognized the need for culturally sensitive implementation strategies.

Conclusions:

• Nurses advocate for patient-centered end-of-life care decisions.
• Culturally appropriate actions are crucial for successful DNR policy implementation.
• Recommendations include patient education on rights and enhanced physician-patient information sharing.