Table 1 Participant characteristics of the sample of the Belgian general population (N = 9651) and proportions having spoken about wishes regarding medical treatments at the end of life with their physician and having an AD on euthanasia

Total respondents

4.4

1.8

Socio-demographic factors

Gender

Man

4244 (47.9)

3.3*

1.7

Woman

5080 (52.1)

5.4*

1.8

Age

18-34

2222 (26.2)

0.7*

0.5*

35-54

2906 (37.5)

3.5*

0.9*

55-74

2216 (25.6)

6.8*

3.3*

75+

1980 (10.7)

12.0*

4.6*

Highest educational level within the household

≤ Primary education

1437 (12.2)

6.7*

2.7

Lower secondary

1511 (15.9)

5.9*

1.8

Higher secondary

2770 (33.2)

4.8*

2.0

Higher education

3302 (38.7)

2.9*

1.4

Marital status

Single (never married)

2399 (26.4)

2.0*

1.1*

Married or registered civil relationship

4672 (56.6)

3.9*

1.7*

Widow/er (not remarried)

1428 (8.2)

13.0*

4.5*

Divorced (not remarried)

804 (8.7)

7.3*

1.7*

Region of residence

Flemish region

3304 (58.3)

3.8*

2.0*

Brussels’ region

2750 (10.6)

4.8*

2.5*

Walloon region

3270 (31.1)

5.5*

1.1*

Health status

Longstanding illness, chronic condition or disability

Yes

3437 (32.7)

7.8*

2.6*

No

5857 (67.3)

2.7*

1.4*

Health service use

Number of GP contacts

Never

4502 (53.2)

2.1*

1.1*

1×/2 months

2447 (26.9)

5.2*

2.0*

1×/month

1412 (12.5)

8.5*

3.2*

≥1×/month

811 (7.4)

11.8*

3.0*

Number of specialist contacts

Never

6930 (77.5)

3.6*

1.6

1×/2 months

1384 (14.4)

6.3*

1.8

1×/month

496 (5.1)

7.3*

3.9

≥1×/month

302 (3.0)

10.6*

2.4

Involvement in ACP

Has spoken about wishes regarding medical treatments at the EOL to their physician

412 (4.4)

-

22.2*

Has an AD on euthanasia

167 (1.8)

55.4*

-