Knowledge and attitude toward do-not-resuscitate among patients and their relatives visiting outpatient clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives: To assess knowledge and attitudes about do not resuscitate)DNR(among patients and their relatives visiting outpatient clinics at King Abdulaziz University Hospital)KAUH(, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted between March and April 2018 with a self-administered questionnaire among patients and their relatives visiting outpatient clinics at KAUH. A systematic random selection of individuals every other day. Results: The questionnaire was filled by 400 participants. Fifty-four percent were patients’ relatives, and approximately 60% were female. Out of 105)26.3%(who were familiar with the DNR term, 44.8% chose the correct definition, 5.2% had previous experience with the DNR term, and 34.3% of them had DNR-related knowledge from social media. Out of the 400 participants, 169)42.3%(disagreed with DNR. The majority of responders did not know if there is DNR policy or fatwa)a legal opinion on the point of Islamic law(. Conclusion: There is a lack of knowledge regarding DNR among participants.