Table 2 Descriptive statistics of the responses from the physicians working in Critical and Intensive Care (CIC) settings and patients’ family members
Responses Physicians/patients’ family members | Never/Rarely | Somewhat | Often/Always | Don’t know | Overall P value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
n (%) | P value | n (%) | P value | n (%) | P value | n (%) | P value | ||
Physicians Q1.1. Do you talk with the patient and/or family members about the details, related to the possible deterioration of the health condition of the patient? | 1 (1.5) | 0.003 | 8 (12.3) | 0.004 | 56 (86.2) | <0.0001 | 0 | 0.48 | <0.0001 |
Patients’ family members Q2.1 Did the doctor talk with you, as the family member, about the details, related to the possible deterioration of the health condition of the patient? | 10 (16.9) | 20 (33.9) | 28 (47.5) | 1 (1.7) | |||||
Physicians Q1.2 Do you inform the patient and/or family members, about the exact time interval the patient might live? | 12 (18.5) | 0.17 | 24 (36.9) | 0.88 | 26 (40.0) | 0.61 | 3 (4.6) | 0.25 | 0.26 |
Patients’ family members Q2.2 Did the doctor inform you, as the patient’s family member, about the exact time interval the patient might live? | 17 (28.8) | 21 (35.6) | 21 (35.6) | 0 | |||||
Physicians Q1.3 Do you discuss with the patient how his/her death may occur? | 46 (70.8) | – | 17 (26.2) | – | 2 (3.1) | – | 0 | – | – |
Patients’ family members | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | ||
Physicians Q1.4Do you discuss with the family members about how the patient’s death may occur? | 10 (15.4) | <0.0001 | 29 (44.6) | 0.66 | 26 (40.0) | 0.002 | 0 | – | 0.0004 |
Patients’ family members Q2.4 Did the doctor discuss with you about how the patient’s death may occur? | 26 (4.1) | 24 (40.7) | 9 (15.3) | 0 | |||||
Physicians Q1.5 Did you discuss the further treatment strategy (e.g. CPR, use of breathing support devices,) with the patient and/or family members? | 3 (4.6) | 0.07 | 7 (10.8) | 0.02 | 55 (84.6) | 0.001 | 0 00o0 | – | 0.004 |
Patients’ family members Q2.5 Did the doctor discuss with you the further treatment strategy e.g. CPR, use of breathing support devices? | 9 (15.3) | 16 (27.1) | 34 (57.6) | 0 | |||||
Physicians Q1.6 Do you talk to the patient and/or family member about life-related topics associated and important to the patient? | 7 (10.8) | <0.0001 | 33 (50.8) | 0.002 | 23 (35.4) | 0.10 | 2 (3.1) | 0.81 | <0.0001 |
Patients’ family members Q2.6 Did the doctor talk with you about life-related topics associated and important to the patient? | 30 (50.8) | 14 (23.7) | 13 (22.0) | 2 (3.4) | |||||
Physicians Q1.7 Do you talk with the patient about his/her faith (religion)? | 23 (40.0) | <0.0001 | 23 (40.0) | 0.02 | 11(16.9) | 0.05 | 0 | – | <0.0001 |
Patients’ family members Q2.7 Did the doctor talk with about the Patient’s faith (religion)? | 46 (78.0) | 10 (16.9) | 3 (5.1) | 0 | |||||
Physicians Q1.8 Do you respect the spiritual attitudes and religiousness of the patient? | 0 (0.0) | <0.0001 | 23 (35.4) | 0.01 | 42 (64.6) | <0.0001 | 0 (0.0) | <0.0001 | <0.0001 |
Patients’ family members Q2.8 Did the doctor show respect towards the patient’s spiritual attitudes and religiousness? | 29 (49.2) | 9 (15.3) | 4 (6.8) | 17 (28.8) | |||||
|  | Very difficult | Somewhat | Not at all | Don’t know |  | ||||
Physicians Q1.9 Do you find it difficult to talk with the patient and/or his family about the patient’s death? | 11 (16.9) | 0.05 | 39 (60.0) | 0.40 | 15 (23.1) | 0.02 | 0 | – | 0.0219 |
Patients’ family members Q2.9 Was it difficult for the doctor to talk with you about the patient’s death? | 3 (5.1) | 31 (52.5) | 25 (42.4) | 0 | |||||
|  | Negative | Somewhat | Positive | Don’t know |  | ||||
Physicians Q1.10 How would you appraise your communication with the patient in general? | 1 (15.0) | 0.001 | 13 (20.0) | <0.0001 | 51 (78.5) | <0.0001 | 0 | – | <0.0001 |
Patients’ family members Q2.10 How would you appraise doctors’ communication with you in general? | 12 (20.3) | 33 (55.9) | 14 (23.7) | 0 | |||||