Perceptions on good-life, good-death, and advance care planning in Koreans with non-cancerous chronic diseases

Abstract

Aims: This study explored perceptions on a good-life, good-death, and advance care planning in Koreans with non-cancerous chronic diseases with the goal to develop a culture-specific advance care planning intervention in this population. Design: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Methods: Data collections were conducted between September 2017 – June 2018. Twenty-nine patients aged 41–82 years (85.8% men) participated in the interviews lasting 40–60 min. The verbatim transcriptions of the semi-structured interview data were analysed using conventional content analysis. Results: Good-life was described as ‘present with physical and financial independence,’ ‘not burdensome to the family,’ ‘completed life responsibility’, and ‘helping others.’ Some participants described good-death as ‘prepared death’ while others considered it as ‘sudden death during sleep.’ All participants wanted to have a painless death and not burden the family. Advance care planning was a new concept to many participants. It was likened to ‘insurance.’ Some participants believed that decision-making on life-sustaining treatment should be done by their family, not themselves, because of economic or emotional distress. Some participants wanted to discuss medical and non-medical care services to reduce the burden on self and family. Conclusion: Family is key when it comes to the meaning of good-life and good-death. Cultural adaptation is necessary to meet the advance care planning needs of Koreans with non-cancerous chronic diseases. Impact: Successfully implementing advance care planning in Koreans with non-cancerous chronic diseases depends on how it is adapted to the disease-specific characteristics compared with cancer, and the cultural norms and social context. Nurses need to be prepared to offer advance care planning to persons with non-cancerous chronic diseases based on a keen sense of and empathetic cultural competence. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd