Table 2 Participants’ responses to questions regarding what older patients were likely to want during end-of-life care
From: Thai medical students’ attitudes regarding what constitutes a “good death”: a multi-center study
Statements | Rating: no. of participants | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 Strongly agree | 4 Agree | 3 Neutral | 2 Disagree | 1 Strongly disagree | |
1. Patients want to know the full truth about their illnessesa | 484 (47.4%) | 456 (44.6%) | 72 (7.1%) | 6 (0.6%) | 3 (0.3%) |
2. Patients want their family to know the full truth about their illnessesa | 299 (29.3%) | 413 (40.4%) | 245 (24.0%) | 60 (5.9%) | 4 (0.4%) |
3. Patients want to be involved in the decision about the treatment they receiveb | 664 (65.3%) | 307 (30.2%) | 41 (4.0%) | 3 (0.3%) | 2 (0.2%) |
4. Patients want to name a surrogate decision maker regarding their healthcare in advance for when they are unable to make these kinds of decisions for themselvesc | 483 (47.4%) | 400 (39.2%) | 113 (11.1%) | 17 (1.7%) | 6 (0.6%) |
5. Patients want as much relief as possible from uncomfortable symptoms such as pain and shortness of breath a | 668 (65.4%) | 282 (27.6%) | 65 (6.4%) | 3 (0.3%) | 3 (0.3%) |
6. Patients wish to be respected and have their spiritual needs met in addition to being treated for their diseasesa | 847 (83.0%) | 152 (14.9%) | 18 (1.7%) | 1 (0.1%) | 3 (0.3%) |
7. Patients wish to be surrounded by their loved ones in their times of needa | 817 (80.0%) | 176 (17.2%) | 23 (2.3%) | 1 (0.1%) | 4 (0.4%) |
8. Patients do not wish to be a physical and psychological burden to their familyc | 580 (56.9%) | 319 (31.3%) | 100 (9.8%) | 17 (1.7%) | 3 (0.3%) |
9. Patients wish to complete unfinished business, be prepared to die, and say goodbye to family and friendsd | 665 (65.2%) | 296 (29.0%) | 54 (5.3%) | 3 (0.3%) | 2 (0.2%) |
10. Patients do not wish to receive treatments to prolong their lives when the chances of surviving are slimd | 338 (33.1%) | 382 (37.5%) | 244 (23.9%) | 44 (4.3%) | 12 (1.2%) |
11. Patients wish to have religious rites conducted at the end of lifed | 409 (40.1%) | 344 (33.7%) | 243 (23.8%) | 20 (2.0%) | 4 (0.4%) |
12. Patients wish to be mentally aware during the last hour of lifec | 386 (37.9%) | 353 (34.6%) | 249 (24.4%) | 23 (2.3%) | 8 (0.8%) |
13. Patients wish to pass away at homea | 383 (37.5%) | 306 (30.0%) | 300 (29.4%) | 21 (2.0%) | 11 (1.1%) |