Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Καρδιοαναπνευστική ΑναζωογόνησηLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Supervisors info:
Σιαφάκα Ιωάννα, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών.
Ξάνθος Θεόδωρος, Συντονιστής προγράμματος μεταπτυχιακών σπουδών «Καρδιοαναπνευστική Αναζωογόνηση», Ιατρική Σχολή, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών.
Ιακωβίδου Νικολέττα, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, Εθνικό και Καποδιστριακό Πανεπιστήμιο Αθηνών.
Original Title:
Καρδιοαναπνευστική αναζωογόνηση στον καρκινοπαθή τελικού σταδίου - Βιοηθικοί προβληματισμοί
Translated title:
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the end-stage cancer patient. Bioethical considerations.
Summary:
Introduction: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in cancer patients is an ethical issue of worldwide interest. This study tries to explore the knowledge and views of cancer patients regarding CPR in Greece.
Methods: A questionnaire-based study was carried out in a major Greek oncology hospital from June to October 2016. Conscious cancer patients aged over 18 years old could participate in the survey.
Results: Overall, 200 eligible cancer patients (94 male, 106 female) of a mean age of 62.8 years took part in the study. Only 42 (21%) patients indicated that they knew what CPR really involves and only 20 (10%) patients thought that CPR has serious side effects, while the mean estimated in-hospital CPR survival rate to hospital discharge was 56.6% [minimum=2%, maximum=99%, standard deviation (SD)=25.16] and 42.1% (minimum=0%, maximum=90%, SD=24.56%) in case of unselected and cancer patients respectively. Despite their poor knowledge, 177 (88.5%) patients were willing to undergo CPR in case of an in-hospital arrest, 127 (63.5%) thought that they had the right to choose their CPR status and 141 (70.5%) believed that they should be asked about it when they enter the hospital. Most patients (36%) wanted their CPR status to be decided by themselves, their family and their doctor jointly.
Conclusion: Although cancer patients of this study were not aware of CPR, most of them were in favor of CPR in case of an in-hospital arrest and they would like to be asked about it. In line with worldwide efforts, specific measures should be taken in Greece in order to manage this ethical issue.
Main subject category:
Ethics
Keywords:
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, Cancer, Oncology, Patients, Bioethics.
Number of references:
127
