Experiences of Life-Sustaining Treatment Decisions among Patients with Terminal Cancer

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the life-sustaining treatment decisions of terminal cancer patients.

Methods

Data on 10 terminal cancer patients who decided to withhold or withdraw from treatment were collected using in-depth interviews conducted from February 8 to October 30, 2019. Data were collected until saturation was reached and then analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological method.

Results

In this study, six thematic clusters were identified “having complicated feelings”, “making choices to protect everyone”, “accepting and preparing for death”, “feeling distress”, “pursuing spiritual well-being”, and “evaluating the new system”.

Conclusion

When facing death, terminal cancer patients often made choices to protect their family and

SUBMITTER: Kim Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10180048 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature