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Learning Objective 1: This presentation can provide the basis to develop on-the-job training programs for palliative care nursing education in long-term care institutions.
Learning Objective 2: To provide better care, it is recommended that an inventory regarding decision-making of life-supporting treatment for clinical and research use be constructed.
The purpose of this study was to explore family caregivers’ decision-making processes relating to life-supporting treatments for residents with persistent vegetative state (PVS) in Taiwan.
Methods:
A qualitative study was conducted. Fifteen family caregivers of residents with PVS were chosen from six PVS special care units sponsored by a social welfare foundation in Taiwan. Data were collected from in-depth interviews in which the participants exposed their experiences in decision-making processes concerning life-supporting treatments. All interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed. Content analysis was used to analyze the above data.
Results:
The results indicated that the caregiving process involves constant decision-making. Four themes in the family caregivers’ decision-making process for life-supporting treatment for residents with PVS were noted: decisional crux, extended dilemma, coping strategies, and decision making. The process is circular in nature, and may change as the residents’ condition changes and as the care giving burden felt by family caregivers evolves. Some coping strategies were used that altered the meaning and view towards caregiving. Such developments forced family caregivers to adopt a decision in their mind. However, when the patient encountered a critical condition again, the family caregiver could often return to a state of decisional crux until the PVS patient dies.
Conclusion:
The findings of this study can provide the basis to develop on-the-job training programs for palliative care nursing education in long-term care institutions. To provide better care, it is recommended that an inventory regarding decision-making of life-supporting treatment for clinical and research use be constructed.
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