Correlates of the Attitude Toward Life-Sustaining Treatment: A Study With Older Adults in South Korea

The goal of the present study was to examine factors associated with the attitude toward life-sustaining treatment among older adults in South Korea. Focus was given to sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, education, financial status, and religious affiliation), family-related variables (presence of a spouse, children, and a living parent [or in-law]), and health-related variables (chronic conditions, functional disability, and self-rated health). Using data from 6,895 participants (aged 65-97) in the 2014 Korean National Elderly Survey, logistic regression model was tested. The proportion of the sample that endorsed a strong disagreement with the provision of life-sustaining treatment was 53.2%. The increased odds of having a strong disagreement was found in those with younger age (<75), higher education, a living parent (or in-law), and more favorable ratings of health. Findings shed light on programs and services on end-of-life care planning for older adults in South Korea.