Family factors affecting on withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in Korea.

The purpose of this study was to identify the family factors affecting on withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in Korea on the basis of Olson's Circumplex Model. A descriptive study was conducted with 364 Korean adults who had experienced a family member with cancer being hospitalized at least 1 month prior in Korea. Data were analysed by using the Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regressions with SPSS/WIN 15.0 program. The mean score of The mean score of withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment appeared low. Significant bivariate correlations were found among withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment, family cohesion and family communication. Family factors predicting withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment were family cohesion and family communication. This study demonstrated that balanced families with optimal family cohesion and communication are predicted to easily accept withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for their family member at the terminal stage in Korea.