G Bosshard1, A Wettstein, W Bär. 1. Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Zürich-Irchel, Winterthurerstrasse 190/Bau 52, 8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the stability of attitude towards life-extending measures in aged people. METHOD: Face-to-face interviews of nursing home residents at an interval of 3 years (prospective longitudinal survey). RESULTS: During the first interview period in 1997 (n=50), 19 nursing home residents (38%) had advocated treatment with antibiotics in a hypothetical scenario of acute life-threatening pneumonia. 15 individuals (30%) had refused such treatment, while statements from a further 16 (32%) had been ambivalent. Three years later, 19 individuals could be re-interviewed (28 had died in the meantime, 3 suffered from advanced dementia). 16 of these expressed the same or a similar attitude towards the above scenario as they did three years earlier (correspondence 84.2%, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results indicate a high stability of attitude towards life-extending measures in aged people. This finding may have implications for the meaning of advance directives in geriatric long-term care.
OBJECTIVE: To explore the stability of attitude towards life-extending measures in aged people. METHOD: Face-to-face interviews of nursing home residents at an interval of 3 years (prospective longitudinal survey). RESULTS: During the first interview period in 1997 (n=50), 19 nursing home residents (38%) had advocated treatment with antibiotics in a hypothetical scenario of acute life-threatening pneumonia. 15 individuals (30%) had refused such treatment, while statements from a further 16 (32%) had been ambivalent. Three years later, 19 individuals could be re-interviewed (28 had died in the meantime, 3 suffered from advanced dementia). 16 of these expressed the same or a similar attitude towards the above scenario as they did three years earlier (correspondence 84.2%, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The results indicate a high stability of attitude towards life-extending measures in aged people. This finding may have implications for the meaning of advance directives in geriatric long-term care.