Table 6 Factors that influenced the decision to withhold or withdraw treatment, ranked by impact
From: End-of-life decisions in Greek intensive care units: a multicenter cohort study
Factor | Impact on the decision | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | No | Little | Moderate | Much | Ultimate |
Unresponsiveness to treatment already offered | 2 (6) | 0 (0) | 3 (9) | 4 (12) | 24 (73) |
Prognosis of underlying chronic disease | 4 (12) | 1 (3) | 0 (0) | 3 (9) | 25 (76) |
Prognosis of acute illness | 2 (6) | 1 (3) | 3 (9) | 7 (21) | 20 (61) |
Future poor health | 8 (24) | 0 (0) | 1 (3) | 6 (18) | 18 (55) |
Preexisting poor health | 13 (39) | 3 (9) | 1 (3) | 4 (12) | 12 (36) |
Aggressiveness of treatment, discomfort disproportionate to expected benefit | 7 (21) | 4 (12) | 6 (18) | 2 (6) | 14 (42) |
Physical and psychological pain | 9 (27) | 10 (30) | 3 (9) | 9 (27) | 2 (6) |
Age (years) | 18 (55) | 5 (15) | 4 (12) | 4 (12) | 2 (6) |
Emotion/conscience | 19 (58) | 7 (21) | 3 (9) | 3 (9) | 1 (3) |
Relatives' opinion | 20 (61) | 4 (12) | 5 (15) | 1 (3) | 3 (9) |
Physician's religious beliefs | 25 (76) | 3 (9) | 3 (9) | 2 (6) | 0 (0) |
Economic cost | 31 (94) | 1 (3) | 1 (3) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |
Patient's will | 32 (97) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (3) |
Lack of ICU beds | 33 (100) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) |