Table 2.

Priorities regarding treatment options for a fictitious cancer patient; the differences among groups were statistically significant (p = 0.005).

Treatment type	Patients	Health-care professionals	Laypersons
One that prolongs survival, regardless of quality of life.	21.2%	2.3%	11.8%
One that provides a reasonably long life, although not necessarily the longest, with few side effects and little impact on quality of life.	59.6%	72.7%	54.4%
One that maximizes quality of life, although survival may be shorter.	15.2%	22.7%	33.8%
No treatment should be given.	0%	0%	0%
Do not know or prefer not to comment.	4.0%	2.3%	0%