Worldwide end-of-life practice for patients in ICUs.PURPOSE OF REVIEW

PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Published data and practice recommendations on end-of-life (EOL) generally reflect Western practice frameworks. 
Western practice frameworks
Worldwide end-of-life practice for patients in ICUs.PURPOSE OF REVIEW

ICUs
Published data and practice recommendations on end-of-life (EOL) generally reflect Western practice frameworks.  This review explores current knowledge of similarities and differences in EOL practice between regions and possible causes and implications of these differences.


 Some evidence supports the view that culture, religion, and socioeconomic factors influence EOL practice, and individually or together account for differences observed.  There are also likely to be commonly desired values and expectations for EOL practice, and recent attempts at establishing where worldwide consensus may lie have improved our understanding of shared values and practices.


 Awareness of differences, understanding their likely complex causes, and using this knowledge to inform individualized care at EOL is likely to improve the quality of care for patients.  Further research should clarify the causes of EOL practice variability, monitor trends, and objectively evaluate the quality of EOL practice worldwide.
EOL
Recent observational and survey data shows a marked variability in the practice of withholding and withdrawing life sustaining therapy worldwide. 
life sustaining therapy
Some evidence supports the view that culture, religion, and socioeconomic factors influence EOL practice, and individually or together account for differences observed. 
culture
Some evidence supports the view that culture, religion, and socioeconomic factors influence EOL practice, and individually or together account for differences observed. 
religion
Some evidence supports the view that culture, religion, and socioeconomic factors influence EOL practice, and individually or together account for differences observed. 
socioeconomic factors