Living With Dying articles

Doctor Survey Results - online extras

By Leah Carey
Dec. 6, 2016

This survey was distributed to medical professionals at three local health care organizations: Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in St. Johnsbury, Vermont; North Country Hospital in Newport, Vermont; and Ammonoosuc Community Health Services in Littleton, New Hampshire.

The survey was anonymous.

We received a total of 35 responses.

Question 1

Imagine you have a patient with a terminal condition. Without treatment, statistics say they have approximately 6 months to live, during which they will be able to fully engage in life. With treatment, they have approximately 9 months to live. The treatment has side effects that will affect their ability to fully engage. The patient has said that they trust you completely to make the best recommendation. What is your inclination?

A. Recommend treatment0
B. Recommend against treatment8
C. Explain both options equally and don’t make a recommendation27

Question 2

Imagine your closest loved one (spouse, child, parent, or friend) has been diagnosed with a terminal condition. Without treatment, they have approximately 6 months to live, during which they will be able to fully engage in life. With treatment, they have approximately 9 months to live. The treatment has side effects that will significantly affect their ability to fully engage. Your loved one has said that they trust you to make the best recommendation. What is your inclination?

A. Recommend treatment0
B. Recommend against treatment19
C. Explain both options equally and don’t make a recommendation16

Question 3

Imagine you have been diagnosed with a terminal condition. Without treatment, you have approximately 6 months to live, during which you will be able to fully engage in your life. With treatment, you have approximately 9 months to live. The treatment has side effects that will significantly affect your ability to fully engage. What is your inclination?

A. Choose treatment2
B. Choose to not have treatment31
No answer1

Demographics

Gender:

Female18
Male16
No answer1

Age:

21-30 years old2
31-40 years old6
41-50 years old5
51-60 years old11
61-70 years old10

Gender and age:

 MaleFemale
Under 5058
Over 501110

Statistical analysis

Percentage of total respondents:

 ABC
Question 10%24%76%
Question 20%56%44%
Question 36%91% 

Notes of interest:

Doctors in this survey are a bit more than twice as willing to be involved in actual decision making when the patient is a loved one rather than a patient.

While doctors in this survey are willing to make a strong recommendation against treatment to both a patient and a loved one, they are universally unwilling to make a strong recommendation for treatment.

Percentage by gender:

Male (16 respondents)

 ABC
Question 10%31%69%
Question 20%50%50%
Question 312%81% 

Female (18 respondents)

 ABC
Question 10%17%83%
Question 20%56%44%
Question 30%100% 

Notes of interest:

While males are a bit more willing to make a strong recommendation against treatment to a patient, they are also more willing to accept treatment for themselves.

The shift from not making a strong recommendation to a patient to making a strong recommendation against treatment to a loved one is pronounced in the female respondents. They are also universally uninterested in receiving aggressive end-of-life treatment.

Percentage by age range:

Under 50 years old (14 respondents)

 ABC
Question 10%14%86%
Question 20%50%50%
Question 30%100% 

Over 50 years old (21 respondents)

 ABC
Question 10%29%71%
Question 20%57%43%
Question 310%86% 

Notes of interest:

The shifts by age closely mirror the shifts by gender, with women mirroring the under-50 respondents and males mirroring the over-50 respondents.

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