Table 3.
End-of-life medical decisions made in the final 14 days and 48 h of life for patients who were registered as terminal and those who were not
| Medical decisions related to end-of-life care | Decisions in the final 14 days | Decisions in the final 48 h | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered terminal situation Yes |
Registered terminal situation No |
Registered terminal situation Yes |
Registered terminal situation No |
|
| n = 104 | n = 98 | n = 104 | n = 98 | |
| n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | n (%) | |
| Transfer to home | 5 (4.8 %) | 3 (3.1 %) | 2 (1.9 %) | 0 (0 %) |
| Transfer to a care home | 5 (4.8 %) | 8 (8.2 %) | 0 (0 %) | 1 (1 %) |
| Palliative consult | 14 (13.5 %) | 8 (8.2 %) | 3 (2.9 %) | 1 (1 %) |
| Referral to palliative care unit | 8 (7.7 %) | 6(6.1 %) | 1 (1 %) | 1 (1 %) |
| Transfer to palliative care unit | 9 (8.7 %) | 4 (4.1 %) | 0 (0 %) | 0 (0 %) |
| Decision of withholding/withdrawing interventions. | 12 (11.5 %) | 5 (5.1 %) | 5 (4.8 %) | 3 (3.1 %) |
| Withdrawal of or not starting artificial nutrition | 4 (3.8 %) | 1 (1 %) | 2 (1.9 %) | 0 (0 %) |
| Withdrawal of or not prescribing parenteral hydration | 5 (4.8 %) | 0 (0 %) | 3 (2.9 %) | 0 (0 %) |
| Withdrawal of or not starting mechanical ventilation | 6 (5.8 %) | 6(6.1 %) | 5 (4.8 %) | 5 (5.1 %) |
| Withdrawal or non-prescription of antibiotics | 12 (11.5 %) | 1 (1 %) | 9 (8.7 %) | 1 (1 %) |
| Not running diagnostic tests | 7 (6.7 %) | 0 (0 %) | 1 (1 %) | 0 (0 %) |
| Withdrawal of medication | 29 (27.9 %) | 5 (5.1 %) | 20 (19.2 %) | 5 (5.1 %) |
| Not entering into or consulting ICU | 6 (5.8 %) | 5 (5.1 %) | 4 (3.8 %) | 4 (4.1 %) |
| Do Not Resuscitate order (DNR) | 36 (34.6 %) | 15 (15.3 %) | 9 (8.7 %) | 7 (7.1 %) |
| Prescription of palliative sedation | 38 (36.5 %) | 20 (20.4 %) | 28 (26.9 %) | 15 (15.3 %) |
| Prescription of opioids | 57 (54.8 %) | 32 (32.7 %) | 21 (20.2 %) | 15 (15.3 %) |
| No aggressive measures | 3 (2.9 %) | 1 (1 %) | 2 (1.9 %) | 0 (0 %) |
| Prescription of comforting measures | 14 (13.5 %) | 7 (7.1 %) | 8 (7.7 %) | 4 (4.1 %) |
| Conservative treatment | 3 (2.9 %) | 1 (1.0 %) | 2 (1.9 %) | 0 (0 %) |
| Withdrawal of or not prescribing active oncological treatment (oncology patients n = 81) | 3 (5.8 %) | 1 (3.4 %) | 2 (1.9 %) | 0 (0 %) |
| Withdrawal of or not prescribing dialysis | 2 (1.9 %) | 0 (0 %) | 0 (0 %) | 0 (0 %) |