Table 2 Attitudes, background factors and life values of the physicians in 1999 and 2015

 Active euthanasia is reprehensible

(6–51)

(5–66)

 Withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments is reprehensible

(76–95)

(76–99)

 Assisted suicide is reprehensible

(5–38)

(2–52)

 End-of-life care is satisfying

(19–52)

(3–35)

 People should pay costs of factitious diseases by themselves

(27–72)

(46–93)

 Advance directives have been helpful in my decisions

(14–54)

(2–29)

 Good palliative care enables good death

(9–28)

(1–12)

 Physicians can’t estimate cancer pain

(25–70)

(27–72)

 Religion has influence when I make ethical decisions

(31–93)

(47–98)

 Being a doctor gives me satisfaction

(11–30)

(2–18)

 My health is excellent

(10–32)

(6–26)

 I feel burn out, tired to work

(63–94)

(71–97)

 I’m pleased with my salary

(37–87)

(7–50)

 It is waste of resources to treat patients > 80 years in ICU

(49–86)

(54–93)

 Having children

(85)

(88)

 Having own advance directive

(5)

(6)

 Taking care of end-of-life patients in practice (last 2 years)

(75)

(65)

 Taking care of a family member in end-of-life

(73)

(49)

 Being afraid of death (Fear-of-death index)

(80)

(86)

 Length of life is important

(59)

(87)

 Health is important

(99)

(99)

 Family is important

(95)

(99)

 Clean environment is important

(93)

(98)

 High standard of living is important

(50)

(65)

 Faith in God is important

(48)

(42)

 Success in professional career is important

(89)

(62)