Information disclosure to terminally ill patients and their relatives: self-reported practice of Belgian clinical specialists and general practitioners.
Palliat Med
; 23(4): 345-53, 2009 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19251830
ABSTRACT
Objective of this study is to examine physicians' practices regarding information disclosure to terminally ill patients and to their relatives, without informing the patient. A questionnaire had been sent to a random sample of 3014 Belgian physicians from different specialties frequently involved in end-of-life care. Responses were analysed using weighted percentages, Chi-square, Mann-Whitney U-tests and a multivariate ordinal logistic regression. Response rate was 58%. Both clinical specialists and general practitioners (GPs) discuss most topics related to terminal illness with their patients except end-of-life hastening options, spirituality, life expectancy and options to withhold/withdraw life-sustaining treatment. The topics which most physicians always discuss with relatives without informing the patient are the aim of treatment, palliative care and incurability. There is a significant difference between clinical specialists and GPs. Clinical specialists and GPs discuss most end-of-life topics with the patient but omit important issues such as end-of-life hastening options and life-expectancy.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Terminal Care
/
Family
/
Terminally Ill
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Palliat Med
Journal subject:
SERVICOS DE SAUDE
Year:
2009
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Bélgica