Prevalence of patients with do-not-resuscitate status on acute geriatric wards in Flanders, Belgium

Cindy De Gendt, Johan Bilsen, Nele Van Den Noortgate, Margaretha Lambert, R. Vander Stichele, Luc Deliens

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    9 Citaten (Scopus)

    Samenvatting

    Background. Elderly hospitalized patients have low survival rates after cardiopulmonary resuscitation, especially in the long term. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of patients with do-not-resuscitate (DNR) status on acute geriatric wards and the characteristics of the preceding decision-making process.

    Methods. On all 94 geriatric wards in Flanders, Belgium (2002), the geriatrician who performed the bulk of clinical work was asked to fill in a retrospective structured mail questionnaire.

    Results. The response rate was 72.3%. A DNR status was attributed to 20.3% of patients. A significant higher prevalence of patients with DNR status was found on wards with a geriatrician who had been active in patient care for 15 years or less and on wards with a DNR policy. Mostly, DNR status was attributed when the patient's condition declined (34.0%) or became critical (29.0%). Geriatricians consulted at least one person in 81.0% of the cases: (head) nurses in 72.2%, next of kin in 61.9%, the patient's general practitioner in 22.6%, and the patient him- or herself in 15.7%. Reasons stated to make a DNR decision were the prognosis (68.1%) and the physical condition of the patient (62.2%). Age was mentioned in only 21.1% of the cases, always in combination with other reasons.

    Conclusions. One fifth of patients on acute geriatric wards in Flanders have DNR status. The decision to attribute DNR status is most often made late in the course of the disease. (Head) nurses and the patient's next of kin are often consulted, the patient and his or her general practitioner rarely.
    Originele taal-2English
    Pagina's (van-tot)395-400
    Aantal pagina's6
    TijdschriftThe Journals of Gerontology. Series A, Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
    Volume62
    Nummer van het tijdschrift4
    DOI's
    StatusPublished - 1 apr. 2007

    Bibliografische nota

    Journals of Gerontology Series A-Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences. (in press)

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