Table 2 Physicians’ attitudes to end-of-life decisions by life stance
AttitudeBelgiumDenmarkNetherlandsSwedenSwitzerlandAustralia
To NTD and APS
    Roman Catholic−0.40 (−0.46 to −0.33)*−0.05 (−0.14 to 0.04)−0.66 (−1.01 to −0.31)−0.04 (−0.14 to 0.05)0.08 (−0.02 to 0.18)
    Protestant*0.32 (0.26 to 0.39)−0.08 (−0.18 to 0.03)−0.20 (−0.28 to −0.12)0.14 (0.06 to 0.22)0.09 (0.01 to 0.18)
    Non-religious (specific philosophy)0.15 (0.00 to 0.30)0.49 (0.24 to 0.75)0.26 (0.01 to 0.50)−0.15 (−0.41 to 0.10)0.36 (0.03 to 0.69)0.29 (−0.07 to 0.65)
    Non-religious (no specific philosophy)−0.03 (−0.13 to 0.07)0.41 (0.33 to 0.49)0.06 (−0.01 to 0.13)−0.11 (−0.20 to −0.02)0.21 (0.12 to 0.30)0.25 (0.18 to 0.32)
    p Value<0.0010.1020.0210.002<0.0010.011
To use of lethal drugs
    Roman Catholic0.21 (0.16 to 0.27)*0.20 (0.12 to 0.28)−0.68 (−0.95 to −0.40)−0.17 (−0.26 to −0.07)−0.68 (−0.80 to −0.56)
    Protestant*0.01 (−0.06 to 0.08)0.13 (0.04 to 0.23)−0.75 (−0.82 to −0.68)0.03 (−0.06 to 0.11)−0.20 (−0.29 to −0.10)
    Non-religious (specific philosophy)0.77 (0.65 to 0.89)0.44 (0.15 to 0.74)0.60 (0.37 to 0.84)−0.47 (−0.77 to −0.17)0.14 (−0.27 to 0.55)0.02 (−0.29 to 0.32)
    Non-religious (no specific philosophy)0.67 (0.60 to 0.74)0.18 (0.09 to 0.27)0.35 (0.29 to 0.41)−0.47 (−0.56 to −0.39)0.39 (0.29 to 0.49)0.09 (0.01 to 0.17)
    p Value<0.0010.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001
To preserving life
    Roman Catholic−0.08 (−0.13 to −0.03)*−0.39 (−0.47 to −0.32)0.85 (0.58 to 1.12)0.04 (−0.05 to 0.12)0.50 (0.38 to 0.61)
    Protestant*0.39 (0.31 to 0.46)−0.29 (−0.38 to −0.19)0.89 (0.82 to 0.96)−0.23 (−0.31 to −0.16)0.07 (−0.02 to 0.16)
    Non-religious (specific philosophy)−0.77 (−0.90 to −0.64)−0.09 (−0.43 to 0.25)−0.86 (−1.06 to −0.66)0.67 (0.36 to 0.97)−0.46 (−0.80 to −0.11)−0.29 (−0.59 to 0.02)
    Non-religious (no specific philosophy)−0.59 (−0.66 to −0.52)0.09 (0.00 to 0.18)−0.65 (−0.70 to −0.60)0.52 (0.44 to 0.61)−0.51 (−0.59 to −0.42)−0.34 (−0.42 to −0.27)
    p Value<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001<0.001
  • Values are mean standardised factor score (95% CI); higher scores signify respectively more acceptance of NTD and APS, more tolerance to use of lethal drugs, stronger life-preserving attitude. The scores can be compared within and across countries.

  • *Only life-stance groups with more than 2% of respondents in national sample were retained in the analyses.

  • APS, alleviation of pain/symptoms using drugs with a possible life-shortening effect; NTD, non-treatment decision