Comparison of the Characteristics Among Deceased Do-Not-Attempt-Resuscitation (DNAR) Cancer Patients in Hospice and Oncology Wards

Abstract

Purpose: This was a descriptive study to compare the characteristics and outcomes among deceased cancer patients that had do-not-attempt-resuscitation (DNAR) agreements in hospice and oncology wards. Methods: Subjects of this study were 250 patients with terminal cancer who died after making DNAR agreements from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2016. The subjects were divided into two groups those that died in hospice (n=150) and those that died in oncology wards (n=100). Data were collected from August 2017 to February 2018. Two trained investigators independently reviewed the medical records for subjects using survey tools developed by the researchers (r=.81). Results: Among the general characteristics between two groups, there were differences in age (t=-2.54, p=.012) and education (chi(2)=5.96, p=.015). Among the disease related characteristics, there were differences in surgery history (chi(2)=10.09, p=.001), chemotherapy history (chi(2)=11.08, p=.002) and symptoms (t=5.14, p