Table 2 Comparison of physicians’ attitudes and knowledge regarding the treatment of pneumonia in advanced dementia, between the two study groups
From: Physicians’ views and knowledge on the antibiotic treatment of pneumonia in advanced dementia
HBP (N = 77) | CBP (N = 134) | p-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
Chosen treatment for a patient with pneumonia and advanced dementia, n (%) | |||
Hospitalization and IV antibiotic treatment | 46 (59.7) | 57 (42.5) | 0.005 |
IM antibiotic treatment without hospitalization | 6 (7.8) | 25 (18.7) | |
PO antibiotic treatment without hospitalization | 9 (11.7) | 34 (25.4) | |
No antibiotic treatment, palliative care only | 16 (20.8) | 18 (13.4) | |
Chosen treatment for a patient with pneumonia and advanced dementia (grouped answers), n (%) | |||
Hospitalization and IV antibiotic treatment | 46 (59.7) | 57 (42.5) | 0.017 |
Other | 31 (40.3) | 77 (57.5) | |
The purpose of the treatment for pneumonia in advanced dementia, n (%) | |||
Prolongation of life | 3 (3.9) | 26 (19.4) | 0.001 |
Maintaining quality of life and comfort | 74 (96.1) | 108 (80.6) | |
Is the physician familiar with the “Dying Patient Act, 2005”?, n (%) | |||
Familiar | 19 (24.7) | 32 (23.9) | 0.999 |
Not familiar | 58 (75.3) | 102 (76.1) | |
The level of involvement of the primary caregiver, n (%) | |||
The primary caregiver makes the decision, I only present the options and their meaning | 10 (13.0) | 23 (17.2) | 0.538 |
The primary caregiver is a participant in treatment selection together with me | 39 (50.6) | 71 (53.0) | |
I will involve the primary caregiver in the meaning of the treatment, but choose the treatment myself | 28 (36.4) | 40 (29.9) | |
Self-estimated number of patients with pneumonia and advanced dementia that were treated by the physician in the past year, mean ± SD | 54.1 ± 70.1 | 3.7 ± 4.5 | < 0.001 |
Treatment preferences, if the doctor himself/herself would suffer from advanced dementia and pneumonia, n (%) | |||
No antibiotic treatment, palliative care only | 53 (68.8) | 44 (32.8) | < 0.0001 |
PO or IM antibiotic treatment without hospitalization | 13 (16.9) | 76 (56.7) | |
Hospitalization and IV antibiotic treatment | 11 (14.3) | 14 (10.4) | |
Is the treatment preference for myself the same as the treatment I chose for the patient?, n (%) | |||
Treat differently | 47 (61.0) | 80 (59.7) | 0.885 |
Treat the same | 30 (39.0) | 54 (40.3) | |