Views of cancer patients regarding cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Greece
Corresponding Author
N. Miaris MSc
Postgraduate Study Program (MSc) “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Third Department of Medical Oncology, “Agioi Anargyroi” General Oncology Hospital of Kifisia, Athens, Greece
Department of Cardiology, “Tzaneio” General Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece
Correspondence
Nikolaos Miaris, Department of cardiology, “Tzaneio” General Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorE. Samantas PhD
Third Department of Medical Oncology, “Agioi Anargyroi” General Oncology Hospital of Kifisia, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorI. Siafaka PhD
Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Therapy, First Anesthesiology Clinic, Medical School, Aretaieio University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorE. Logothetis PhD
Department of Biopathology, Aretaieio University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorN. Iacovidou PhD
Postgraduate Study Program (MSc) “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Department of Neonatology, Aretaieio University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Hellenic Society of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorA. Chalkias PhD
Postgraduate Study Program (MSc) “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Hellenic Society of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorT. Xanthos PhD
Hellenic Society of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece
Medical School, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
N. Miaris MSc
Postgraduate Study Program (MSc) “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Third Department of Medical Oncology, “Agioi Anargyroi” General Oncology Hospital of Kifisia, Athens, Greece
Department of Cardiology, “Tzaneio” General Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece
Correspondence
Nikolaos Miaris, Department of cardiology, “Tzaneio” General Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, Greece.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorE. Samantas PhD
Third Department of Medical Oncology, “Agioi Anargyroi” General Oncology Hospital of Kifisia, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorI. Siafaka PhD
Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Therapy, First Anesthesiology Clinic, Medical School, Aretaieio University Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorE. Logothetis PhD
Department of Biopathology, Aretaieio University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorN. Iacovidou PhD
Postgraduate Study Program (MSc) “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Department of Neonatology, Aretaieio University Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Hellenic Society of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorA. Chalkias PhD
Postgraduate Study Program (MSc) “Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation”, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Hellenic Society of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorT. Xanthos PhD
Hellenic Society of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, Athens, Greece
Medical School, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in patients with cancer is an ethical issue of worldwide interest. A questionnaire-based study was carried out in a Greek oncology hospital aiming to explore the attitude of Greek cancer patients towards CPR. Overall, 200 patients (94 male, 106 female) of a mean age of 62.8 years took part in the study. Only 42 (21%) patients indicated that they knew what CPR really involves and only 20 (10%) patients thought that CPR has serious side effects, while the mean estimated in-hospital CPR survival rate to hospital discharge was 56.6% (minimum = 2%, maximum = 99%, standard deviation [SD] = 25.16) and 42.1% (minimum = 0%, maximum = 90%, SD = 24.56%) in case of unselected and cancer patients respectively. Despite their poor knowledge, 177 (88.5%) patients were willing to undergo CPR in case of an in-hospital arrest, 127 (63.5%) thought that they had the right to choose their CPR status and 141 (70.5%) believed that they should be asked about it when they enter the hospital. Most patients (36%) wanted their CPR status to be decided by themselves, their family and their doctor jointly. These findings indicate that specific measures should be applied to clinical practice in order to best manage this ethical issue, and consequently, improve cancer care.
CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
The authors of this study have no conflict of interests.
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