Short Communication Attitudes to terminal patients unorthodox therapy: Finnish doctors responses to a case scenario Heikki Hinkka1, 2, 6 , Elise Kosunen2, Ulla-Kaija Lammi2, Riina Metsänoja3 and Pirkko Kellokumpu-Lehtinen4, 5 (1) Kangasala Health Center, Herttualantie 28, 36200 Kangasala, Finland (2) Department of General Practice, Medical School, University of Tampere, FIN-33 014 Tampere, Finland (3) Tampere School of Public Health, University of Tampere, FIN-33 014 Tampere, Finland (4) Department of Oncology, Medical School, University of Tampere, FIN-33 014 Tampere, Finland (5) Clinic of Oncology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland (6) Tähkätie 53, 36200 Kangasala, Finland Abstract We carried out a postal survey of a sample of Finnish doctors (n=1182) concerning their attitudes and ethical decisions in end-of-life care. A scenario was presented in which a patient with terminal cancer wished to obtain unorthodox treatment. Factors possibly influencing decision making such as general attitudes, life values and demographics were investigated. The response rate was 62%. The patients plan to use unorthodox treatment was accepted by 54% of doctors. Gender or speciality did not influence the decision, but doctors age was a significant factor (P=0.0005). Doctors aged 35–49 years were more accepting; younger and older ones less accepting. Doctors who had clinical experience in terminal care were more compliant to the patients plan (P=0.034). A stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to create a model for explaining not accepting versus accepting the treatment with the background variables. Altogether eight independent significant variables were included in the final model of explaining a doctors choice in the presented scenario. According to the model the patients wish was more frequently accepted if the doctor was middle-aged, had clinical experience in terminal care, valued a high standard of living, considered terminal care satisfying, was less critical of health economics, considered advance directives helpful, had a high fear-of-death index score, and valued professional status less. Supportive Care in Cancer Publisher: Springer-Verlag Heidelberg ISSN: 0941-4355 (Paper) 1433-7339 (Online) DOI: 10.1007/s00520-003-0557-2 Issue: Volume 12, Number 2 Date: February 2004 Pages: 132 - 136 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.