THE STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION OF FTI CONSULTING Li Livin ing Well at t the he End o of Li Life: Oregon on and Washingt gton on S Survey R y Results
Methodology This is the second installment of the Regence/National Journal “Living Well at the End of Life” poll commissioned by National Journal and conducted by FD. The survey fielded June 15-16 & 18-19, 2011 among: – A sample of 600 registered voters each in Washington and Oregon. Margin of error +/- 4.0%. 2
Summary of Key Findings There is strong public support in Oregon and Washington for the underlying principles of palliative care. There is high “demand” for palliative care and people assume this type of care is available to them. Voters are pleased with their state’s options to ease pain and suffering and focus on quality of life. They assume these options are available to them. However, they’re not familiar with the term “palliative care” and not sure how easily they and others can access it. Even in these states that have more history with and knowledge of end-of-life issues, more education around palliative care and how to access it is needed. 3
Belief in the primary importance of enhancing the quality of life for patients is higher in Oregon and Washington than nationally. Which statement comes closer to your point of view? It is more important to ENHANCE the quality of life for seriously ill patients, even if it means a shorter life …OR… It is more important to EXTEND the life of seriously ill patients through every medical intervention possible . 85% 83% 71% 23% 14% 11% Enhance Extend Enhance Extend Enhance Extend National Oregon Washington (FEB-11) Weekly Churchgoers: Weekly Churchgoers: Weekly Churchgoers: 68% - 24% 76% - 21% 77% - 16% 4
There is strong agreement about patients being allowed to control their treatment options, including when and where to die. When I approach the end of my life, Seriously ill patients should be I should be allowed to control my allowed to control their end-of-life end-of-life treatment options, treatment options, including including choosing to decline life- choosing to decline life-extending extending treatment options and treatment options and choosing choosing when and where to die when and where to die 95% 96% 94% 93% Strongly Strongly Strongly Strongly Agree Agree Agree Agree 85% 87% 85% 81% 6% 5% 4% 4% Agree Disagree Agree Disagree Agree Disagree Agree Disagree Oregon Washington Oregon Washington 5
With explanation, POLST is extremely well-received and Death With Dignity is viewed more favorably than before. The Death with Dignity Act was approved by The POLST Program is an initiative developed by Oregon voters in 1994 and reaffirmed in 1997 / doctors and policymakers in the state through approved by Washington voters in 2008. This which seriously ill patients have their wishes and act allows doctors to prescribe medicine for preferences for life-sustaining treatments some of the most seriously ill patients to take in documented on a medical order and signed by a order to voluntarily bring about their own death. doctor. POLST forms carry the full weight of a medical order, meaning that a patient’s wish to receive or not receive life-sustaining treatment must be followed by other medical professionals. 91% 85% 77% 70% Very Very Very Very 27% 20% Fav Fav Fav Fav 12% 5% 52% 44% 56% 49% Fav Unfav Fav Unfav Fav Unfav Fav Unfav Oregon Washington Oregon Washington REP: 60% - 39% REP: 48% - 46% REP: 86% - 9% REP: 85% - 13% IND: 74% - 19% IND: 70% - 29% IND: 92% - 5% IND: 83% - 14% DEM: 92% - 7% DEM: 85% - 12% DEM: 94% - 4% DEM: 87% - 9% Weekly Weekly Weekly Weekly Church: 49% - 46% Church: 38% - 58% Church: 87% - 9% Church: 85% - 12% 6
Oregon voters are considerably more likely to say that policies like POLST and DWDA are unique among other states in the country. Do you believe that these policies in (Oregon/Washington) are unique compared to most other states in the country, or are they fairly common compared to most other states? 52% 37% 32% 31% 31% 17% Unique Common Don't Know Unique Common Don't Know Oregon Washington 7
Though many voters admit some hesitation, the public in both states say they support these policies because they provide choices and options for patients at the end of life. . OR WA Which statement comes closest to your own point of view? I fully support these policies without hesitation because 48% 41% they are the right approach to give people the greatest choice when it comes to end-of-life care. I have some hesitations about these policies, but I support 38% 40% them because I think they at least help create some more options for people on end-of life care. I oppose these policies, but I think they bring up some good 9% 12% points about the need for more options on end-of-life care. 3% 5% I fully oppose these policies because they take the state in the wrong direction on these issues. Top Groups with HESITATIONS OREGON WASHINGTON 54% Age 18-29 44% Age 18-29 44% Rural Voters 59% Rural Voters 45% Independents 46% Republicans 58% Non-Whites 46% HS Ed or Less 50% Weekly Church 44% Weekly Church 8
While voters in Oregon and Washington are well familiar with end-of-life care and hospice care… . End-of-Life Care: Hospice Care: Familiarity Familiarity Familiar / Not Familiar Familiar / Not Familiar 94% 87% 78% 86% 77% 65% 33% 23% 21% 13% 13% 6% National Oregon Washington National Oregon Washington (Feb-11) (Feb-11) 9
Palliative care is still an unfamiliar term to most. Palliative Care: Familiarity Familiar / Not Familiar 71% 70% 61% 32% 26% 24% National Oregon Washington (Feb-11) Non-Coll: 16% - 80% Non-Coll: 22% - 69% Non-Coll: 12% - 83% College+: 35% - 59% College+: 46% - 50% College+: 40% - 56% 18-44: 21% - 77% 18-44: 28% - 69% 18-44: 17% - 80% 45+: 25% - 67% 45+: 36% - 55% 45+: 34% - 61% 10
Provided with a definition of palliative care: Palliative care describes any kind of care or treatment for seriously ill patients which focuses on reducing the severity of symptoms rather than attempting to reverse progression of the illness or provide a cure. The goal of palliative care is to provide physical, emotional, and spiritual support to patients and also their families. Palliative care can be provided alongside of curative treatment and is commonly provided at home, at a hospital, or at a nursing home. An important part of palliative care is end-of-life care, which focuses specifically on advanced planning for patients approaching death. This includes discussing their preferred treatment options and reducing their pain and suffering. 11
Voters say they have spent considerable time thinking about these issues and they believe that palliative care treatment should be available for all patients. Regardless of whether or not you have How important do you believe it is that been personally involved in planning palliative care treatment options be for or making palliative care decisions, available to all seriously ill patients how much have you personally thought who need them and want them? about these issues? 97% 96% 74% 68% 32% 26% 4% 2% Great Not Too Great Not Too Total Total Not Total Total Not Deal / Much / Deal / Much / Important Important Important Important Some Not At All Some Not At All Oregon Washington Oregon Washington Non-Coll: 66% - 33% Non-Coll: 61% - 39% College+: 83% - 17% College+: 74% - 26% 18-44: 69% - 31% 18-44: 54% - 46% 45+: 77% - 22% 45+: 78% - 22% 12
Voters are confident that palliative care would be available to them if they needed it. How confident are you that quality palliative care would be available to you or a family member if you needed it? 76% 72% 25% 19% Confident Not Confident Confident Not Confident Oregon Washington 13
Those who have made or planned for palliative care have reached out to friends, families and medical professionals for consultation. Who specifically have you consulted with or talked to regarding these palliative care decisions? Family Family Oregon Washington 57% 56% Members Members Family Family Doctor / 52% Doctor / 44% Physician Physician Hospice Hospice 17% 15% Group Group Hospital / Hospital / 13% 11% Care Facility Care Facility Church Church Members / 7% Members / 6% Pastor Pastor Attorney 7% Attorney 8% Nurse 6% Nurse 6% Friend 5% Friend 5% 14
Fewer than half believe that doctors and other providers do a good enough job of talking about the full range of palliative care options. In your opinion, do you believe that doctors and other health care providers do a good enough job of talking with seriously ill patients about the full range of options available to them including palliative care alongside all other treatments? Among Those Involved In Planning Among Full Sample: or Making Palliative Care Decisions: Getting DATA From Venture 52% 47% 46% 46% 44% 36% 35% 34% 19% 18% 11% 8% Yes No Don’t Yes No Don’t Yes No Don’t Yes No Don’t Know Know Know Know Oregon Washington Oregon Washington 15
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