Do-Not-ResuscitateDecision-Making during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Teaching Hospital: Lessons Learned for the Future

Mick van de Wiel; Sabrina van Ierssel; Walter Verbrugghe; Veerle Mertens; Annelies Janssens

doi:10.1155/2023/2771149

Do-Not-ResuscitateDecision-Making during the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Teaching Hospital: Lessons Learned for the Future

J Aging Res. 2023 Dec 20:2023:2771149. doi: 10.1155/2023/2771149. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Mick van de Wiel¹, Sabrina van Ierssel², Walter Verbrugghe³, Veerle Mertens⁴, Annelies Janssens¹

Affiliations

¹ Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Department of Thoracic Oncology, Drie Eikenstraat 655, Edegem 2650, Belgium.
² Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Department of General Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Edegem 2650, Belgium.
³ Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Department of Intensive Care, Edegem 2650, Belgium.
⁴ Antwerp University Hospital (UZA), Department of Geriatrics, Edegem 2650, Belgium.

Abstract

Method: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted between February 2021 and April 2021 for all doctors and doctors in training, working in the Antwerp University Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: 127 doctors participated in this study. The familiarity with the different scores used in the triage during the COVID-10 pandemic was 51% for the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and 20% for the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI). Participants indicated that their DNR decision is based on various aspects such as clinical assessment, comorbidities, patient's wishes, age, prognosis, and functional state.

Conclusion: The familiarity with the different scores used during triage assessments is low. The total clinical picture of the patient is needed to make a considered decision, and this total picture of the patient seems to be well encompassed by frailty measurement (CFS). Although many participants indicated that the different scores do not offer much added value compared to their clinical assessment, it can help guide DNR decisions, especially for doctors in training.