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Physicians' attitudes towards end-of-life decisions: a comparison between seven countries

Miccinesi, G ; Fischer, S ; Paci, E ; Onwuteaka-Philipsen, BD ; Cartwright, C ; van der Heide, A ; Nilstun, Tore LU ; Norup, M and Mortier, F (2005) In Social Science and Medicine 60(9). p.1961-1974
Abstract
In the context of an European collaborative research project (EURELD), a study on attitudes towards medical end-of-life decisions was conducted among physicians in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. Australia also joined the consortium. A written questionnaire with structured questions was sent to practising physicians from specialties frequently involved in the care of dying patients. 10,139 questionnaires were studied. Response rate was equal to or larger than 50% in all countries except Italy (39%). Apart from general agreement with respect to the alleviation of pain and symptoms with possible life-shortening effect, there was large variation in support-between and within countries-for medical decision... (More)
In the context of an European collaborative research project (EURELD), a study on attitudes towards medical end-of-life decisions was conducted among physicians in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. Australia also joined the consortium. A written questionnaire with structured questions was sent to practising physicians from specialties frequently involved in the care of dying patients. 10,139 questionnaires were studied. Response rate was equal to or larger than 50% in all countries except Italy (39%). Apart from general agreement with respect to the alleviation of pain and symptoms with possible life-shortening effect, there was large variation in support-between and within countries-for medical decision that may result in the hastening of death. A principal component factor analysis found that 58% of the variance of the responses is explained by four factors. 'Country' explained the largest part of the variation of the standardized factor scores. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
cross-national attitudes, end-of-life decisions, EURELD, Australia, Europe
in
Social Science and Medicine
volume
60
issue
9
pages
1961 - 1974
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000227686600006
  • pmid:15743647
  • scopus:20044372513
ISSN
1873-5347
DOI
10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.08.061
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
522c8425-3d42-4158-bbff-caeec1535780 (old id 897041)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:42:48
date last changed
2022-02-10 20:25:16
@article{522c8425-3d42-4158-bbff-caeec1535780,
  abstract     = {{In the context of an European collaborative research project (EURELD), a study on attitudes towards medical end-of-life decisions was conducted among physicians in Belgium, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. Australia also joined the consortium. A written questionnaire with structured questions was sent to practising physicians from specialties frequently involved in the care of dying patients. 10,139 questionnaires were studied. Response rate was equal to or larger than 50% in all countries except Italy (39%). Apart from general agreement with respect to the alleviation of pain and symptoms with possible life-shortening effect, there was large variation in support-between and within countries-for medical decision that may result in the hastening of death. A principal component factor analysis found that 58% of the variance of the responses is explained by four factors. 'Country' explained the largest part of the variation of the standardized factor scores.}},
  author       = {{Miccinesi, G and Fischer, S and Paci, E and Onwuteaka-Philipsen, BD and Cartwright, C and van der Heide, A and Nilstun, Tore and Norup, M and Mortier, F}},
  issn         = {{1873-5347}},
  keywords     = {{cross-national attitudes; end-of-life decisions; EURELD; Australia; Europe}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  pages        = {{1961--1974}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Social Science and Medicine}},
  title        = {{Physicians' attitudes towards end-of-life decisions: a comparison between seven countries}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.08.061}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.socscimed.2004.08.061}},
  volume       = {{60}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}