Allocation of Mechanical Ventilators During a Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study of Perceptions among Japanese Health Care Workers and the General Public.

Allocation of Mechanical Ventilators During a Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study of Perceptions among Japanese Health Care Workers and the General Public. Chest. 2021 Jan 11;: Authors: Norisue Y, Deshpande GA, Kamada M, Nabeshima T, Tokuda Y, Goto T, Ishizuka N, Hara Y, Nakata R, Makino J, Matsumura M, Fujitani S, Hiraoka E Abstract BACKGROUND: In Japan, public dialog on allocation of life-saving medical resources remains taboo, and discussion has largely been avoided. RESEARCH QUESTION: Do Japanese health care workers and the general public agree with principles of ventilator allocation developed internationally? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A 4-point Likert scale questionnaire was used to assess the extent of agreement or disagreement with internationally developed triage principles for rationing mechanical ventilators during pandemics. Questionnaires were distributed in person or online, and generalized linear models were used to analyze quantitative data. Free-text descriptions were qualitatively analyzed, both deductively and inductively, to compare respondent opinions with those described in previous US studies. RESULTS: Of 3191 surveys distributed, 1520 were returned. Allocation of resources to maximize survival from current illness ("save the most lives") was the most popular triage principle, with 95.8% of respondents in agreement. Allocation to ensure a minimum duration of benefit, as determined by predict...
Source: Chest - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Chest Source Type: research