Table 3.
Frequency of topics discussed by respondents in the previous year, and comparison of pulmonologists and general practitioners
| All respondents | Pulmonologists | GPs | P valuea | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disease course and incurability | Never | 2 (0.6) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.9) | 0.014 |
| Rarely | 4 (1.2) | 2 (1.8) | 2 (0.9) | ||
| Sometimes | 39 (11.4) | 13 (11.4) | 26 (11.4) | ||
| Often | 162 (47.4) | 67 (58.8) | 95 (41.7) | ||
| Always | 135 (39.5) | 32 (28.1) | 103 (45.2) | ||
| Life expectancy | Never | 9 (2.7) | 0 (0.0) | 9 (4.0) | 0.050 |
| Rarely | 30 (8.9) | 14 (12.5) | 16 (7.1) | ||
| Sometimes | 98 (29.0) | 41 (36.6) | 57 (25.2) | ||
| Often | 133 (39.3) | 39 (34.8) | 94 (41.6) | ||
| Always | 68 (20.1) | 18 (16.1) | 50 (22.1) | ||
| Fear of choking | Never | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.4) | 0.065 |
| Rarely | 10 (3.0) | 3 (2.7) | 7 (3.1) | ||
| Sometimes | 53 (15.7) | 18 (16.1) | 35 (15.5) | ||
| Often | 169 (50.0) | 67 (59.8) | 102 (45.1) | ||
| Always | 105 (31.1) | 24 (21.4) | 81 (35.8) | ||
| Fear of death/dying | Never | 3 (0.9) | 1 (0.9) | 2 (0.9) | <0.001 |
| Rarely | 13 (3.9) | 7 (6.3) | 6 (2.7) | ||
| Sometimes | 64 (19.3) | 37 (33.0) | 27 (12.3) | ||
| Often | 149 (44.9) | 46 (41.1) | 103 (46.8) | ||
| Always | 103 (31.0) | 21 (18.8) | 82 (37.3) | ||
| Advantages and disadvantages of life sustaining treatments | Never | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0.456 |
| Rarely | 7 (2.1) | 1 (0.9) | 9 (8.0) | ||
| Sometimes | 30 (9.0) | 6 (2.7) | 21 (9.5) | ||
| Often | 149 (44.7) | 58 (51.8) | 91 (41.2) | ||
| Always | 147 (44.1) | 44 (39.3) | 103 (46.6) | ||
| Advantages and disadvantages of non-invasive ventilation | Never | 56 (16.7) | 0 (0.0) | 56 (25.2) | <0.001 |
| Rarely | 56 (16.7) | 5 (4.4) | 51 (23.0) | ||
| Sometimes | 88 (26.3) | 28 (24.8) | 60 (27.0) | ||
| Often | 93 (27.8) | 60 (53.1) | 33 (14.9) | ||
| Always | 42 (12.5) | 20 (17.7) | 22 (9.9) | ||
| Desirability of hospitalization for acute exacerbation | Never | 4 (1.2) | 1 (0.9) | 3 (1.3) | <0.001 |
| Rarely | 14 (4.2) | 11 (9.8) | 3 (1.3) | ||
| Sometimes | 64 (19.0) | 39 (34.8) | 25 (11.2) | ||
| Often | 158 (47.0) | 52 (46.4) | 106 (47.3) | ||
| Always | 96 (28.6) | 9 (8.0) | 87 (38.8) | ||
| Palliative treatment options for dyspnea (e.g. morphine) | Never | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | <0.001 |
| Rarely | 1 (0.3) | 0 (0) | 1 (0.4) | ||
| Sometimes | 25 (7.5) | 10 (9.1) | 15 (6.7) | ||
| Often | 161 (48.3) | 73 (66.4) | 88 (39.5) | ||
| Always | 146 (43.8) | 27 (24.5) | 119 (53.4) | ||
| Preferred place of death | Never | 6 (1.8) | 5 (4.6) | 1 (0.4) | <0.001 |
| Rarely | 28 (8.4) | 21 (19.3) | 7 (3.1) | ||
| Sometimes | 61 (18.3) | 36 (33.0) | 25 (11.2) | ||
| Often | 114 (34.2) | 34 (31.2) | 80 (35.7) | ||
| Always | 124 (37.2) | 13 (11.9) | 111 (49.6) | ||
| Spiritual and existential needs | Never | 25 (7.6) | 15 (13.8) | 10 (4.5) | <0.001 |
| Rarely | 67 (20.2) | 40 (36.7) | 27 (12.2) | ||
| Sometimes | 119 (36.0) | 36 (33.0) | 83 (37.4) | ||
| Often | 85 (25.7) | 14 (12.8) | 71 (32.0) | ||
| Always | 35 (10.6) | 4 (3.7) | 31 (14.0) | ||
| Caregiver burden | Never | 3 (0.9) | 1 (0.9) | 1 (0.9) | <0.001 |
| Rarely | 25 (7.6) | 20 (18.5) | 5 (2.2) | ||
| Sometimes | 97 (29.3) | 51 (47.2) | 46 (20.6) | ||
| Often | 147 (44.4) | 32 (29.6) | 115 (51.6) | ||
| Always | 59 (17.8) | 4 (3.7) | 55 (24.7) | ||
| Goals of care | Never | 21 (6.4) | 1 (0.9) | 20 (9.0) | 0.702 |
| Rarely | 35 (10.7) | 12 (11.2) | 23 (10.4) | ||
| Sometimes | 131 (39.9) | 49 (45.8) | 82 (37.1) | ||
| Often | 102 (31.1) | 35 (32.7) | 67 (30.3) | ||
| Always | 39 (11.9) | 10 (9.3) | 29 (13.1) |
Notes: Data are expressed as absolute values and percentages. aP-values based on Mann–Whitney U-test.