Table 5 Characteristics associated with consultations perceived as difficult by SCEN physicians for the assessment of due care criteria and patient characteristics, 2016–2017
Multivariable odds ratio (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
The assessment of due care criteria | Patient characteristics | |
Difficult (score ≥ 4) | 139 (14.8)a | 97 (10.3)a |
SCEN physician | ||
Number of consultations per year | ||
< 5 | ¶ | ¶ |
5–9 | ||
10–14 | ||
≥ 15 | ||
Attending physician | ||
Profession | ||
General practitioner | 1 | 1 |
Medical specialist | 0.93 (0.32–2.73) | 3.02 (1.09–8.35) |
Elderly care physician | 0.62 (0.24–1.61) | 0.99 (0.37–2.68) |
Works at End of life clinic | 1.82 (0.85–3.89) | 0.64 (0.25–1.63) |
Certainty of decision before consultation | ||
Already promised to grant the request | 1 | 1 |
Decided to grant the request | 0.72 (0.36–1.44) | 0.74 (0.35–1.55) |
Probably wants to grant the request | 1.93 (0.97–3.83) | 1.27 (0.6–2.7) |
Doubts about/doesn’t want to grant the request | 4.69 (1.71–12.88) | 3.52 (1.22–10.18) |
Patient | ||
Age | ||
< 70 years | 1 | 1 |
70–79 years | 0.37 (0.18–0.75) | 0.41 (0.18–0.92) |
≥ 80 years | 0.41 (0.21–0.79) | 1 (0.52–1.89) |
Sex (female) | ¶ | ¶ |
Residency | ||
Home | 1 | 1 |
Care/nursing home | 1.52 (0.76–3.05) | 1.72 (0.8–3.69) |
Hospital | 1.45 (0.48–4.41) | 5.08 (1.8–14.31) |
Hospice | 2 (0.76–5.24) | 3.27 (1.32–8.1) |
Main diagnosis | ||
Cancer | 1 | 1 |
Heart failure/CVA | 3.54 (1.44–8.66) | 2.17 (0.87–5.39) |
MS/ALS | 0.79 (0.16–3.89) | 0.94 (0.2–4.45) |
COPD | 1.18 (0.29–4.75) | 0.66 (0.15–2.89) |
Accumulation of age-related health problems/dementia/psychiatric disorder | 13.52 (6.4–28.56) | 2.91 (1.31–6.43) |
Other | 5.05 (2.42–10.53) | 1.35 (0.56–3.27) |
Besides main diagnosis alsob | ||
Physical illness | ¶ | ¶ |
Psychiatric disorder | ¶ | 8.24 (3.11–21.86) |
Accumulation of age-related health problems | 1.96 (0.87–4.46) | ¶ |
Dementia | ¶ | ¶ |
Psychosocial or existential problems | 2.25 (1.07–4.71) | 2.24 (1.07–4.72) |
Reasons to request EAS | ||
Loss of dignity | ¶ | ¶ |
Overall weakness | 0.93 (0.57–1.54) | 1.22 (0.69–2.17) |
Being tired with life | 0.94 (0.34–2.57) | 1.47 (0.52–4.18) |
Pointless suffering | ¶ | ¶ |
Knowing that suffering will not get better | ¶ | ¶ |
Fear of suffocation | 0.62 (0.21–1.8) | ¶ |
Invalidity | ¶ | ¶ |
Depression | – | – |
Dependency | ¶ | ¶ |
Not wanting to be a burden for family | 1.67 (0.7–4) | 1.3 (0.49–3.5) |
Physical sufferingc | 0.69 (0.41–1.15) | 0.87 (0.49–1.52) |