Opinion of Polish doctors on the use of futile therapy.

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  • Additional Information
    • Publication Information:
      Ahead of Print
    • Source:
      Publisher: Oxford University Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9204966 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1464-360X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 11011262 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Eur J Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Publication: Oxford : Oxford University Press
      Original Publication: Stockholm, Sweden : Almqvist & Wiksell International, c1991-
    • Abstract:
      The discontinuation of futile therapy is increasingly discussed in Polish clinical practice. Given the need to ensure patient well-being, it is essential to consider whether all clinical options resulting from medical progress should be used for every patient and on what grounds decisions to limit therapy should be based. The aim of our study was to determine the opinions of Polish medical doctors on this topic. We anonymously surveyed physicians across various specialties. An analysis of the collected data was carried out using descriptive and analytical methods. A total of 323 physicians participated in the study; 93% of them were aware of the problem of futile therapy in adults, with intensivists being significantly more aware (P = 0.002). Additionally, 95% of respondents supported the idea of discontinuing futile therapy, and over 68% used the therapy discontinuation protocol. Among the most common reasons for undertaking futile therapy, respondents cited fear of legal liability (93.5%), as well as fear of being accused of unethical behavior (62.2%) and fear before talking to the patient/patient's family and their reactions (57.9%). Respondents also identified factors that would facilitate making decisions about limiting futile therapy, including precise qualification criteria for limiting therapy and education in this area (95.3%), the patient's declaration of will (87.5%), and a clear legal act (81.3%). The majority of study participants supported the idea of limiting futile therapy, and this issue is well known among Polish physicians.
      (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association.)
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20241220 Latest Revision: 20241220
    • Publication Date:
      20241222
    • Accession Number:
      10.1093/eurpub/ckae202
    • Accession Number:
      39707019