Table 4 Sub-group analyses according to professional qualification
From: End-of-life decision making by Austrian physicians - a cross-sectional study
Hemato-oncologists | Internal medicine physicians | GPs | Overall | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Intensification of medical treatment to relieve pain and/or symptoms | 95.8% (91) | 79.6% (39) | 86.6% (201) | 88% (331) | p = 0.01 |
Decision to withhold a treatment | 76.6% (72) | 53.1% (26) | 56.6% (133) | 61.1% (231) | p = 0.002 |
Discontinuation of a treatment | 61.5% (56) | 57.1% (28) | 44.2% (103 | 50.1% (187) | p = 0.011 |
Administered benzodiazepines or barbiturates for deep sedation | 31.9% (29) | 16.7% (8) | 10.3% (23) | 16.5% (60) | p < 0.001 |
Do you feel adequately trained to provide patients with end-of-life care? | 91.8% (90) | 78.6% (55) | 73.3% (214) | 78% (359) | p = 0.001 |
I feel legally secure when providing patients with end-of-life care | 61% (61) | 41.1% (30) | 43.4% (128) | 46.8% (219) | p = 0.005 |
Have you been asked to provide physician-assisted suicide in the past? | 66% (66) | 35.1% (26) | 39.9% (119) | 44.7% (211) | p < 0.001 |