Patient attitudes to intensive care and life-sustaining technology

Tully, RP; Kitchen, G; Tufchi, A; Saha, B; Baker, RD

Abstract

We used a validated questionnaire to explore the views of patients regarding receiving intensive care and life-sustaining technology. Data was obtained from 38 patients. A score was obtained for ‘general attitude towards use of lifesustaining/prolonging technology’ that varied from 18.9 to 48.5 out of 52, the higher score reflecting a more positive attitude. There was no significant difference between men and women or correlation with age or ASA score. A score for ‘personal desire for life support’ was also obtained, ranging from zero to a maximum possible score of eight, which reflected the most positive view. The median score was 0.5. Women had a significantly lower median score of zero vs 1.5 for men (p=0.022). There was no significant correlation with age or ASA score. There was considerable heterogeneity of views regarding the use of life-sustaining technology. In this study, women were less likely to want intensive medical treatment than men.

Citation

Tully, R., Kitchen, G., Tufchi, A., Saha, B., & Baker, R. (2014). Patient attitudes to intensive care and life-sustaining technology. Journal of the Intensive Care Society, 15(4), 331-335. https://doi.org/10.1177/175114371401500413

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Oct 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jun 29, 2015
• Journal: Journal of the Intensive Care Society
• Print ISSN: 1751-1437
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 331-335
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/175114371401500413
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/175114371401500413
• Related Public URLs: http://inc.sagepub.com/