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Table 2 Scenarios with competent patient and with incompetent patient: Who should decide about continued ventilator treatment?

From: Respiratory support withdrawal in intensive care units: families, physicians and nurses views on two hypothetical clinical scenarios

 

Physicians (%)

N = 155

Nurses (%)

N = 204

 

Patient and/or family without the physician

Patient and/or family together with the physician

The physician only

Patient and/or family without the physician

Patient and/or family together with the physician

The physician only

Competent patient

32 (20.6)

111 (71.6)

8 (5.2)

80 (39.2)

109 (53.4)

10 (4.9)

Incompetent patient

11 (7.1)

119 (76.8)

16 (10.3)

28 (13.7)

160 (78.4)

10 (4.9)

  1. Chi-Square = 14.5, P = 0.001 for the differences between the physicians and nurses with competent patient. Chi-Square = 7.12, P = 0.028 for incompetent patient. Chi-Square = 13.1, P = 0.001 for the differences of physicians' opinions when the scenario changes. Chi-Square = 34.7, P < 0.0001 for the differences of the nurses' opinions when the scenario changes.