Ethnicity and Attitudes Toward Patient Autonomy

摘要: Objective. —To study differences in the attitudes of elderly subjects from different ethnic groups toward disclosure diagnosis and prognosis a terminal illness end-of-life decision making. Design. —Survey. Setting. —Thirty-one senior citizen centers within Los Angeles County, California. Respondents. —A stratified quota sample 200 aged 65 years older self-identified as being each four groups: European American, African Korean or Mexican American (N=800). Main Outcome Measures Results. —Korean Americans (47%) (65%) were significantly less likely than (87%) (88%) to believe that patient should be told metastatic cancer. (35%) (48%) (63%) (69%) make decisions about use life-supporting technology (28% 41% vs 60% 65%). Instead, tended family life support. On stepwise multiple logistic regression, ethnicity was primary factor related truth telling Conclusions. —Korean-American Mexican-American more hold family-centered model medical making rather autonomy favored by most African-American European-American subjects. This finding suggests physicians ask their patients if they wish receive information prefer families handle such matters. (JAMA. 1995;274:820-825)