PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of patients who were recipients of decision-making DNR, to describe the situations of DNR, and to analyze the APACHE III and MOF scores. METHOD: Data collection was conducted through reviews of medical records of 51 patients and through interviews with families of patients who were decision-makers for DNR at C university K Hospital located in Seoul from April to September 2002. RESULTS: The men's APACHE III and MOF scores were higher than the women's and the non cancer patients were higher than cancer patients. Some 80.4% of DNR orders was by communication, while 11.8% of consents were written. Each of APACHE III and MOF scores of patients in the intensive care unit was higher than the patients in general ward at both points of admission and decision-making of DNR. APACHE III and MOF scores positively correlated statistically with each other. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study suggest that APACHE III and MOF scores be useful for decision-making of DNR as a tool measuring severity.
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