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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 345-353 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Palliative Medicine |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2009 |
Keywords
- Information disclosure
- communication
- end-of-life care
- patient-physician relationship