Changes in Perceptions and Attitudes of Medical Students toward End-of-Life Care after Hospice and Palliative Medicine Education

Cha, Jeehyun,Lihm, Hoseob,Kim, Yoonyoung,Kang, Jihun Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2019 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.22 No.4

목적: 높은 수준의 호스피스 및 완화의료 교육은 한국 의과대학 교육과정에 필요하다. 하지만 이와 연관된 연구는 많지 않은 실정이며 이에 본 연구는 호스피스와 완화의료 교육 과정을 마친 의과 대학생의 호스피스와 완화의료에 대한 인지 및 태도 변화를 연구하기 위해 수행 되었다. 또한 의과대학의 기본 교육 과정 안에서 호스피스 교육과정의 역할에 대해서도 탐구하고자 한다. 방법: 호스피스와 완화의학에 대한 통합적인 교육과정을 마친 총 76명의 의학과 4학년 학생이 자기 기입 형태의 설문조사에 참여 하였다. 교육 과정을 마친 후 수업 전과 비교하여 수업 후의 후의 호스피스 및 완화의료에 대한 지식과 태도를 조사하였다. 결과: 교육 과정을 이수한 이후 가장 큰 변화는 호스피스 및 완화의료 세팅에서 적절한 마약성 진통제를 사용할 수 있는가 하는 부분에서 나타났다(3.50점 vs 5.32 점; P≤0.001). 수업 전과 비교하여 수업 이후 호스피스와 완화의료에 대한 태도를 나타내는 질문인 "나는 호스피스와 완화의료의 목표와 역할을 바르게 알고 있다"고 답한 학생은 17명(22.4%)에서 65명(85.6%)으로 증가하였다. 또한 "예비의사로서 나는 호스피스와 완화의료의 바른 적용 시점을 알고 있다"고 답한 학생은 수업 전의 22명(28.9%)과 비교하여 65명(85.6%)으로 증가하였다. 결론: 통합적인 호스피스 완화의료 교육과정은 의과 대학생의 호스피스 및 완화의료에 대한 인식과 태도를 긍정적인 방향으로 변화시킬 수 있다. Purpose: High-quality hospice and palliative medicine curricula are necessary in Korean medical schools. This study evaluated changes in students' knowledge and attitudes toward both hospice and palliative care following the completion of a course on these topics, as well as the course's overall role in the basic medical education curriculum. Methods: Questionnaires measuring knowledge and attitudes were collected before and after the course from 76 fourth-year medical students, who had received instructions integrating both hospice and palliative care in 2016. Results: The questionnaire item "Select the correct answer on the use of opioid pain control in hospice and palliative care" changed the most in terms of number of correct answers pre- and post-course (3.50 and 5.32, respectively; P<0.001). Pre- and post-course, the numbers of students who answered "Strongly Agree" and "Agree" to questions concerning their attitudes toward hospice and palliative care ("I know the purposes and roles of hospice and palliative care") were 17 (22.4%) and 65 (85.6%), respectively (P≤0.001). Affirmative responses also increased for "As a pre-physician, I know when to describe and advise hospice and palliative care to patients", from 22 (28.9%) to 65 (85.6%; P≤0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that comprehensive hospice education in the form of an integrated educational course might promote changes in medical students' knowledge and attitudes toward hospice and palliative medicine.

Comparison of the Attitudes of Nurses and Physicians toward Palliative Care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Jung, Ha Na,Ju, Hyeon Ok Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2021 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.24 No.3

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the attitudes of nurses and physicians toward neonatal palliative care and identify the barriers to and facilitators of neonatal palliative care, with the goal of improving palliative care for infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the NICUs of seven general hospitals with 112 nurses and 52 physicians participating. Data were collected using the Neonatal Palliative Care Attitude Scale questionnaire. Results: Only 12.5% of nurses and 11.5% of physicians reported that they had sufficient education in neonatal palliative care. In contrast, 89.3% of the nurses and 84.6% of the physicians reported that they needed further education. The common facilitators for both nurses and physicians were: 1) agreement by all members of the department regarding the provision of palliative care and 2) informing parents about palliative care options. The common barriers for both nurses and physicians were: 1) policies or guidelines supporting palliative care were not available, 2) counseling was not available, 3) technological imperatives, and 4) parental demands for continuing life support. Insufficient resources, staff, and time were also identified as barriers for nurses, whereas these were not identified as barriers for physicians. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop hospital or national guidelines and educational programs on neonatal palliative care, and it is equally necessary to spread social awareness of the importance of neonatal palliative care.

Factors Influencing Compassion Fatigue among Hospice and Palliative Care Unit Nurses

Cho, Eun-Ju,Cho, Hun Ha Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2021 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.24 No.1

Purpose: This descriptive study aimed to explore nursing workplace spirituality, end-of-life care stress, and resilience as factors influencing compassion fatigue among nurses working in hospice and palliative care units. Methods: Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire completed by 146 nurses at 14 hospice and palliative care institutions across South Korea who had worked in a hospice and palliative care institution for at least 6 months and had experience providing end-of-life care. Data were collected from February 25, 2019 to April 12, 2019, and analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 18.0. As appropriate, descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, the Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression were used. Results: The survey results showed that factors influencing compassion fatigue were resilience, subjective health status, current satisfaction with the hospice ward, and end-of-life care stress. Higher levels of resilience, a subjective health status of "healthy", high levels of current satisfaction with the hospice ward, and lower levels of end-of-life care stress were associated with lower levels of compassion fatigue, explaining 42.9% of the total variance. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that resilience is an important factor mitigating compassion fatigue among nurses at hospice and palliative care institutions. Therefore, intervention programs should be developed to reduce compassion fatigue.

Attitudes towards Death, Perceptions of Hospice Care, and Hospice Care Needs among Family Members of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Oak, Yunha,Kim, Young-Sun Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2020 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.23 No.4

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the relationships among attitudes towards death, perceptions of hospice care, and hospice care needs as perceived by family members of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 114 participating families in the ICU at Dong-A University Hospital, from October 10 to November 1, 2019. The data were analyzed in terms of frequency, percentage, and mean and standard deviation. The t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficients were also conducted. Results: Perceptions of hospice care showed significant differences according to age (F=3.06, P=0.031) and marital status (t=3.55, P=0.001). However, no significant differences in attitudes towards death or hospice care needs were found. A significant positive correlation was found between perceptions of hospice care and hospice care needs (r=0.49, P<0.001). Conclusion: In order for families to recognize the need for hospice care and to receive high-quality palliative care at the appropriate time, it is necessary to increase public awareness of hospice care through various educational and awareness-raising efforts, thereby providing opportunities for families of terminally ill patients to request hospice care.

The Art Therapy Experiences of Patients and Their Family Members in Hospice Palliative Care

Park, Sungeun,Song, Hyunjoo Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2020 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.23 No.4

Purpose: In this study, the researchers closely investigated the psychosocial problems faced by terminal cancer patients and their family members in hospice palliative care units. Methods: The investigators conducted four sessions of art therapy intervention programs for the terminal cancer patients and their family members, carried out in-depth interviews about the influence of the cancer experience on their family function and quality of life, and analyzed their experiences using grounded theory methodology. Results: After providing autonomous written informed consent, six pairs of terminally ill cancer patients and their family members, accounting for a total of 17 participants with the inclusion of additional family members who took part sporadically, took part in the art therapy intervention and interviews. The raw data, in the form of verbatim records, were analyzed according to the procedures of grounded theory (open, axial, and selective coding). Through these processes, a total of 154 concepts, 56 subcategories, and 13 categories were identified. Families were classified into four types according to their family function, quality of life, and attitude toward death. Though the art therapy intervention, patients and their family members experienced three stages over time. Conclusion: This research focused on essential aspects of the family relationships and the art therapy experiences of terminal cancer patients and their family members through an art therapy intervention in the context of hospice palliative care. Based on these observations, the researchers constructed a theoretical rationale for art therapy interventions delivered to patients and their family members in the process of hospice palliative care.

Advance Care Planning: Preliminary Report of Differences and Similarities between Korean and Korean American

Park, Jin Hee Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2013 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.16 No.4

목적: 한국에 있는 한국 사람들과 미국에서 사는 재미 교포들간의 삶의 마지막 치료에 대한 의식, 삶의 마지막 전 계획에 대한 태도, 진실을 직면하는 태도 그리고 마지막 치료에 대한 결정을 누가 내리기를 원하는지에 대한 다른 관점들에 대해 밝히고자 한 예비 연구논문이다. 방법: 65세 이상의 한국에 사는 한국인들 25명, 미국에서 20년 이상 사신 한국인들 23명이 선택되었고 이들은 자신 개인신상에 대해 묻는 질문지와 임종에 가까워질 때 원하는 치료, 임종 전에 사전 계획을 세우는 것에 대한 것, 고칠 수 없는 자신의 병에 대한 진실을 대한 태도, 그리고 누가 마지막 치료에 대한 결정을 내리기를 원하는 지에 대한 질문지에 답하게 되었다. ${\chi}^2$ test로 한국인들 대상자들과 재미 교포 대상자들의 다른 점을 측정하는데 사용하였고, P value가 0.05보다 작은 것을 유용한 자료로 사용하였다. 자료 분석을 위해서는 SPSS 18.0을 사용하였다. 결과: 삶의 마지막 돌봄의 인식, 돌봄계획에 대한 태도, 그리고 진실 알리기 등의 항목에서는 한국인과 재미 교포간에 비슷한 의견을 보였다. 하지만, 삶의 마지막 돌봄에 대한 문서화, 진실을 누구에게 먼저 알릴 것인지, 그리고 선호하는 의사결정모델에서는 유의한 차이를 보였다. 결론: 한국인과 재미교포 사이에는 몇 가지 삶의 마지막 이슈에 대해 공통점과 차이점이 있었다. Purpose: This study was conducted to do preliminary report of differences and similarities between Koreans residing in Korea and Korean Americans residing in America regarding their awareness of end-of-life care, attitudes toward advance care planning, truth telling, and preferred decision-making model. Methods: Two participating groups were selected: a) Koreans residing in Korea, and b) Koreans Americans who had resided in the United States for at least 20 years. 25 Koreans and 23 Korean Americans who were older than 65 years old participated in this study. They were asked via a self-administered questionnaire that contained demographic questions and questions about end-of-life decision making regarding awareness of end-of-life care, attitudes toward advance care planning, truth telling, and preferred decision-making model. A Chi-square was used to measure differences between Koreans' and Korean Americans planning. A P value of less than 0.5 was considered significant. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0. Results: In some aspects of awareness of end of life care, attitudes toward advance care planning, and truth telling, both groups had similar opinions. However, there were significant differences between groups in the necessity of end of life documentation, preferential informing the truth, and preferred decision making model. Conclusion: There were similarities and differences regarding some end of life issues between the Koreans and the Korean Americans.

Spiritual Care in Hospice and Palliative Care

Ferrell, Betty R. Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2017 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.20 No.4

영적간호는 호스피스 완화의료의 중심에 있다. 심각하고 생명을 위협하는 질병에 직면한 환자는 신앙, 희망 및 실존적 관심과 관련하여 중요한 요구를 가지고 있다. 이 논문의 목적은 영성, 영적 평가 및 영적간호 중재의 정의를 포함하여 이러한 간호의 핵심 측면들을 검토하는 것이다. 호스피스 완화의료에서 영적간호와 관련된 내용을 파악하기 위해 현재의 문헌 자료들을 조사했다. 점점 더 많은 증거들이 양질의 완화의료의 핵심 영역으로서 영적간호의 중요성을 뒷받침하고 있다. 문헌은 포괄적인 환자 및 가족 평가의 핵심 측면으로서 영적 평가의 중요성을 뒷받침한다. 영성은 다른 실존적 문제들뿐만 아니라 종교적인 관심도 포함한다. 향후 연구 및 임상시험은 영적간호를 제공하기 위한 최선의 지원 모델을 검증해야 한다. Spiritual care is at the center of hospice and palliative care. Patients facing serious and life-threatening illness have important needs in regard to faith, hope, and existential concerns. The purpose of this article is to review the key aspects of this care, including the definitions of spirituality, spiritual assessment, and spiritual care interventions. A review of the current literature was conducted to identify content related to spiritual care in hospice and palliative care. A growing body of evidence supports the importance of spiritual care as a key domain of quality palliative care. The literature supports the importance of spiritual assessment as a key aspect of comprehensive patient and family assessment. Spirituality encompasses religious concerns as well as other existential issues. Future research and clinical practice should test models of best support to provide spiritual care.

Barriers to Early Palliative Care

Yoon, Seok-Joon Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2020 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.23 No.4

This article aims to discuss the barriers hindering cancer patients from receiving early palliative care, which has been demonstrated to be more effective in improving quality of life and controlling symptoms. Specifically, there are barriers in four aspects of delivering early palliative care. First, the difficulty of starting discussions about early palliative care and the lack of adequate appointment time can impede communication between oncologists and patients and their family members. Second, determining the timing of referral and deciding upon and applying a standard for referral can be barriers in the process of referral from oncology to palliative care. Third, palliative care patients and their family members can face difficulties regarding in what format and by whom the services will be delivered. Fourth, biases, misinformation, and inaccurate beliefs can be barriers in the process of patients and their family members accepting care. In order to facilitate early palliative care, research and policy regarding these barriers are necessary, along with efforts made by medical staff.

Integration of Palliative Care in the Hospital Setting

Wozencraft, Colin,Tucker, Rodney O.,Howell, Stephen Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2012 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.15 No.4

Palliative medicine has shown demonstrated benefit for patients with serious illness, their families, and hospital systems. As such, the demand for palliative care services is growing at a fast pace, and health care facilities frequently struggle to develop and implement effective and sustainable methods of providing this care. As with any new system, challenges and barriers naturally exist to instituting palliative care. Undertaking careful assessment, planning, and resource allocation can provide the greatest likelihood of success when developing these novel yet much needed models of care. This summary paper offers a qualitative overview of the potential benefits and the rationale to implement robust palliative care systems. We briefly review the history of palliative medicine in the broadest sense and address several seminal works from the US palliative care literature. Core practices to establish and advance palliative medicine are suggested. Commentary is provided on some of the particular barriers to palliative system development that may need to be addressed in the context of Korean medical culture. Collectively, we hope this overview can contribute to a framework within which such research and development can occur, leading to increasingly effective and sustainable palliative medicine in Korea.

Quantity over Quality? Perception of Designating Long-Term Care Hospitals as Providers of Hospice and Palliative Care

Kim-Knauss, Yaeji,Jeong, Eunseok,Sim, Jin-ah,Lee, Jihye,Choo, Jiyeon,Yun, Young Ho Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2019 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.22 No.4

목적: 호스피스 완화의료에의 접근성 향상을 위해 요양병원을 호스피스 전문기관으로 지정하는 개정안이 최근 시행되었다. 호스피스 전문기관의 양적 증대도 중요하지만, 이러한 개정에 따른 서비스의 질적 저하 역시 충분히 고려되어야 한다. 이러한 관점에서 본 연구는 1,001명의 암환자, 1,006명의 가족 간병인, 928명의 의사 및 1,005명의 일반인이 해당 개정안이 가진 이점과 비용에 대해 어떻게 인식하고 있는지 확인하였다. 방법: 2016년 7월부터 10월까지 다기관 단면조사를 시행하였다. 연구 참여자들은 전문가 인터뷰 및 선행연구에서 추출된 본 개정안의 이점과 비용에 대해 각각 얼마나 동의 혹은 동의하지 않는지 응답하였다. 분석에는 카이제곱 분석, 단변량 및 다변량 로지스틱 회귀분석을 활용하였다. 결과: 참조집단인 일반인 집단과 비교했을 때, 의사 집단은 요양병원이 양질의 호스피스 완화의료 서비스를 제공하기 위한 시설 및 인력이 충분하지 않다는 점에 더 동의하였으나, 요양병원에서 과한 진료비를 청구할 것이라는 점에는 더 동의하지 않았다. 가족 간병인의 경우 일반인에 비해 요양병원에서 서비스를 제공한다면 접근성이 좋아질 것이라는 점에 더 동의했으나, 호스피스 정신이 훼손될 수 있음과 가족들이 환자 돌봄에 신경 쓰지 않을 것을 더 우려하였다. 일반인과 비교했을 때, 암환자 역시 마찬가지로 호스피스 정신이 훼손될 수 있음을 더 우려하였으며, 서비스의 질이 좋아질 것이라는 점에 대해서는 더 동의하지 않았다. 결론: 본 연구를 통해 호스피스 완화의료의 잠재적인 서비스 이용자 및 제공자가 해당 개정의 이점뿐만 아니라 비용 역시 인식하고 있음을 확인하였다. 본 연구 결과 및 유럽 국가들의 사례를 통해 개정안이 실제로 현장에서 실행되기 전에 호스피스 전문기관으로서 요양병원이 새롭게 갖추어야 할 요건 및 방향성에 대해 제언하였다. Purpose: Amendment to the Act on Decisions on Life-sustaining Treatment was recently enacted to designate long-term care hospitals as providers of hospice and palliative care. Despite its benefit of providing improved accessibility to end-of-life care, the amendment has raised concerns about its effect on quality of service. This study aimed to use information obtained from an expert group interview and previous studies to compare how cancer patients, family caregivers, physicians, and the general Korean population perceive the potential benefits and risks of this amendment. Methods: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study from July to October 2016. The included participants answered a structured questionnaire regarding the extent to which they agree or disagree with the questionnaire items indicating the potential benefits and risks of the amendment. Chi-square tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Compared with the general population, physicians agreed more that long-term care hospitals are currently not adequately equipped to provide quality hospice and palliative care. Family caregivers found improved access to long-term care hospitals more favorable but were more likely to agree that these hospitals might prioritize profits, thereby threatening the philosophy of hospice care, and that families might cease to fulfill filial responsibilities. Compared with the general population, cancer patients were more concerned about the potentially decreased service quality in this setting. Conclusion: Although potential service beneficiaries and providers expected improved accessibility of hospice and palliative care services, they were also concerned whether the system can provide adequate quality of end-of-life care.