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. 2019 Feb 3;9(2):e024662. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-024662

Table 2.

End-of-life care preferences in general and disease-specific ACP forms

Documented preferences n, %
Healthy individuals (n=646)
 Appointment substitute decision maker 581 (89.9)
 Comfort measures 560 (86.7)
 Life-sustaining treatments 79 (12.2)
Individuals with chronic illness (n=49)
 Appointment first substitute decision maker 35 (71.4)
 Appointment second substitute decision maker 15 (30.6)
 Serious complication with low chance of survival
  Full treatment 16 (32.7)
  Stop treatment 31 (63.3)
 Serious complication with loss of ability to move around or communicate
  Full treatment 15 (30.6)
  Stop treatment 32 (65.3)
 Serious complication with mental incapacity
  Full treatment 8 (16.3)
  Stop treatment 38 (77.6)
 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  Attempt 14 (28.6)
  Do not attempt 19 (38.8)
  Do not attempt if doctor believes low survival chances 14 (28.6)
Individuals with advanced illness (n=2685)
 Appointment first substitute decision maker 2526 (94.1)
 Appointment second substitute decision maker 1357 (50.5)
 Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  Attempt 152 (5.7)
  Do not attempt 2511 (93.5)
  Do not attempt if doctor believes low survival chances 22 (0.8)
 Medical intervention
  Full treatment 138 (5.1)
  Limited additional interventions 1851 (68.9)
  Comfort measures only 677 (25.2)
  Unsure 19 (0.7)
 Preferred place of medical treatment
  Home 265 (9.8)
  Hospital 798 (29.7)
  Nursing home 166 (6.2)
  Hospice 131 (4.9)
 Trial of treatment before consider transfer to hospital
   Home 908 (33.8)
   Nursing home 269 (10.0)
   Hospice 28 (1.0)
   Others (no preference, unsure) 110 (4.1)
  Missing 10 (0.4)
 Preferred place of death
  Patient’s home 1084 (40.4)
  Hospital 379 (14.1)
  Nursing home 160 (5.9)
  Hospice 156 (5.8)
  Home or hospital/nursing home/hospice 112 (4.2)
  Healthcare institution (hospital or nursing home or hospice) 177 (6.7)
  Others (no preference, unsure) 617 (23.0)

ACP, Advance Care Planning; CPR, cardiopulmonary resuscitation.