Table 2 Factors for judging a certain treatment futile
Factor | Physicians | Laypeople | |
|---|---|---|---|
n = 1161 (%) | n = 3330 (%) | ||
1 | Request for the treatment from the patient | 43.4 | 69.4 |
2 | Request for the treatment from the patient’s family | 6.7 | 26.4 |
3 | Lack of patient’s wish for the treatment | 34.7 | 28.0 |
4 | Lack of patient’s family’s wish for the treatment | 6.0 | 4.3 |
5 | Cognitive function of the patient | 6.2 | 4.8 |
6 | Patient age | 6.0 | 8.0 |
7 | Patient being close to death | 19.7 | 14.3 |
8 | Therapeutic effect for prolongation of the patient’s life | 15.0 | 17.7 |
9 | Therapeutic effect for QOL (quality of life) of the patient | 40.6 | 20.0 |
10 | Religion of the patient | 3.5 | 1.3 |
11 | Value judgment of the patient about treatment course | 7.2 | 7.8 |
12 | Psychological impact of the treatment on the patient | 4.0 | 14.0 |
13 | Psychological impact of the treatment on the patient’s family | 0.7 | 3.4 |
14 | Maintenance of the patient-healthcare worker relationship | 2.0 | 1.5 |
15 | Likelihood of recovery or cure due to the treatment | 41.6 | 35.3 |
16 | Physical harm (side effect or complication) caused by the treatment | 16.2 | 10.1 |
17 | Theoretical medical appropriateness of providing the treatment | 28.4 | 14.2 |
18 | Value judgment of the healthcare worker about treatment course | 2.2 | 3.1 |
19 | Psychological impact on the healthcare workers | 1.0 | 1.7 |
20 | Cost-benefit balance of the treatment | 4.2 | 8.5 |