Table 2.
Serious illness treatment preference and acceptance of common end-of-life scenarios
| Common End-of-Life Scenarioa | Live as Long as Possible (n=74) | Try Treatments, but Do Not Suffer (n=133) | Focus on Comfort (n=126) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannot recognize family/friends | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 51 (38) | 23 (31) | 19 (24) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 18 (13) | 19 (25) | 14 (18) |
| Not worth living | 14 (10) | 47 (62) | 51 (64) |
| Can’t answer now | 18 (13) | 11 (15) | 16 (20) |
| Cannot think or talk clearly | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 51 (38) | 20 (26) | 18 (23) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 28 (21) | 27 (36) | 21 (26) |
| Not worth living | 10 (7) | 46 (61) | 47 (59) |
| Can’t answer now | 11 (8) | 8 (10) | 14 (18) |
| Cannot respond to commands | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 43 (32) | 16 (21) | 12 (15) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 20 (15) | 17 (22) | 24 (30) |
| Not worth living | 19 (14) | 57 (76) | 50 (63) |
| Can’t answer now | 18 (13) | 11 (14) | 14 (18) |
| Cannot walk but can use a wheelchair | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 69 (51) | 66 (87) | 52 (65) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 22 (16) | 21 (28) | 28 (35) |
| Not worth living | 3 (2) | 7 (9) | 10 (12) |
| Can’t answer now | 7 (5) | 5 (7) | 11 (14) |
| Cannot go outside, must stay home | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 66 (49) | 63 (84) | 44 (56) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 22 (16) | 26 (34) | 34 (43) |
| Not worth living | 4 (3) | 5 (7) | 9 (11) |
| Can’t answer now | 8 (6) | 6 (8) | 13 (16) |
| In severe untreatable pain most of the time | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 32 (24) | 14 (18) | 10 (13) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 39 (29) | 29 (39) | 18 (23) |
| Not worth living | 16 (12) | 47 (63) | 52 (66) |
| Can’t answer now | 12 (9) | 10 (13) | 19 (24) |
| In severe discomfort most of the time | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 40 (29) | 24 (31) | 19 (24) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 32 (23) | 39 (52) | 34 (43) |
| Not worth living | 16 (12) | 28 (37) | 32 (40) |
| Can’t answer now | 12 (9) | 9 (12) | 15 (19) |
| Kept alive by kidney dialysis | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 41 (30) | 42 (56) | 30 (38) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 34 (25) | 26 (34) | 22 (28) |
| Not worth living | 5 (4) | 17 (23) | 33 (41) |
| Can’t answer now | 19 (14) | 15 (20) | 14 (18) |
| Kept alive by breathing machines | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 29 (21) | 14 (18) | 5 (6) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 22 (16) | 18 (24) | 13 (17) |
| Not worth living | 27 (20) | 58 (76) | 69 (87) |
| Can’t answer now | 22 (16) | 11 (14) | 13 (16) |
| Full-time care required | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 36 (26) | 26 (35) | 14 (17) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 24 (17) | 27 (36) | 26 (32) |
| Not worth living | 21 (15) | 39 (52) | 49 (61) |
| Can’t answer now | 19 (14) | 7 (10) | 12 (15) |
| Cannot control bladder or bowels | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 36 (26) | 20 (27) | 15 (19) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 31 (22) | 40 (53) | 27 (34) |
| Not worth living | 17 (12) | 32 (42) | 44 (55) |
| Can’t answer now | 17 (12) | 8 (10) | 14 (18) |
| Live in nursing home permanently | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 37 (27) | 27 (35) | 24 (30) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 29 (21) | 28 (37) | 19 (24) |
| Not worth living | 15 (11) | 34 (45) | 42 (53) |
| Can’t answer now | 19 (14) | 11 (15) | 15 (19) |
| Emotional or financial burden on family | |||
| Difficult, but acceptable | 30 (22) | 20 (27) | 9 (12) |
| Worth living, but just barely | 25 (18) | 21 (28) | 23 (29) |
| Not worth living | 25 (18) | 47 (63) | 47 (59) |
| Can’t answer now | 20 (15) | 11 (15) | 21 (26) |
Numbers expressed as percent (N).
a
n=333 because of exclusion of 47 participants who were unsure of their serious illness treatment preference and two participants with missing end-of-life scenario responses.