关键词: 生命维持治疗；晚期；癌症；质性研究

Abstract: Objective: To explore the reasons why patients with advanced cancer refuse or accept Life-Sustaining Treatments, and to provide a theoretical basis for death education. Methods: A total of 18 patients with advanced cancer admitted to a cancer hospital from July 2021 to January 2022 were recruited in this phenomenological research. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Data were collated and analyzed using Colaizzi's method. Results: We identified the reasons for refusing or accepting Life-Sustaining Treatments in patients with advanced cancer. The six sub-themes for refusing life-sustaining treatments included reluctancy to aggravate financial, care, and mental burden on family members, pursuit of quality of life, maintenance of self-dignity, relief of life (transcendence of death), and completed outstanding matters. The two sub-themes of accepting life-sustaining treatments included attachment to family and reverence for life. Conclusion: Medical staff should guide patients with advanced cancer to comprehensively understand Life-Sustaining Treatments, take positive measures to promote dignified care for terminally ill patients, and improve patients' quality of life.

Key words: Life-Sustaining Treatments; advanced; cancer; qualitative research