Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33227190›Full record

ArticleCancer research and treatment2021

A National Study of Life-Sustaining Treatments in South Korea: What Factors Affect Decision-Making?

So-Youn Park, Bomyee Lee, Jeong Yeon Seon, In-Hwan Oh

Open access · diamondAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Cancer research and treatment, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 32 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
32citing papers in PubMed
2.9field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

32 citing papers in PubMed, 43 citations in OpenAlex.

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  3. Healthcare utilization and end-of-life care based on life-sustaining treatment decisions in patients with cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.

So-Youn ParkDepartment of Medical Education and Medical Humanities, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Bomyee LeeDepartment of Medical Education and Medical Humanities, Graduate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
Jeong Yeon SeonDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
In-Hwan OhDepartment of Preventive Medicine, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Kyung Hee University · KRKyung Hee University Medical Center · KR

Funding

Korea National Institute for Bioethics Policy KoNIBP-MCLST-2019002Ministry of Health and Welfare
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis cross-sectional study investigated the status of life-sustaining treatment (LST) practices and identified characteristics and factors influencing decision-making practices. MATERIALS AND

methodsThe National Agency for Management of Life-sustaining Treatment retains records provided by doctors regarding patients subject to LST implementation. A total of 71,327 patients receiving LST were identified. We analyzed all nationally reported data between February 2018 and October 2019. Indicators such as the proportion of deaths, records for decision to terminate LST, implementation of LST records, and registration of Advance Statements on LST were analyzed.

resultsA total of 67,252 (94.3%) end-of life decisions were implemented in South Korea. The proportion of deaths preceded by a LST plan, non-self-determination LST decision, and any advance statements was 33.5% (23,891/71,327), 66.5% (47,436/71,327), and 1.2% (890/71,327), respectively. The logistic regression model revealed that self-determination to terminate LST was more frequent for men than for women and higher for those aged 30-69. Disability (odds ratio [OR], 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56 to 0.61), living in non-metropolitan areas (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.81 to 0.86), and disease comorbidity was independently associated with a low level of self-determination.

conclusionAfter the implementation of the new LST Act, about a third of patients in end-of-life process made decisions regarding their medical LST. However, family members still play a major role in LST decisions where the patient's intention cannot be verified. Decisions related to LST are predominantly made when death is imminent. Thus, it is necessary to increase awareness of end-of-life LST decision-making among medical staff and the public.

Indexed as

AgedAged, 80 and overCross-Sectional StudiesDecision MakingFemaleHumansMalePersonal AutonomyRepublic of KoreaCross-sectional studiesHospiceMedical staffPalliative carePersonal autonomyTerminal care

Identifiers

PMID33227190
PMCPMC8053857
OpenAlexW3110015001

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.