Table 2 Physician experience, attitude and barriers to EOL decisions, such as DNR, among practicing physicians in the American University of Beirut Medical Center (AUBMC) and Hotel Dieu de France (HDF) participating in the study

 No

 Yes

15(15%)

85(85%)

8(11.9%)

59(88.1%)

0.574†

 - Ready for physician-initiated discussion with mentally competent patient.

68(68%)

23(34.3%)

0.000†

 - Ready for patient-initiated discussion with mentally competent patient

21(21%)

29(43.3%)

0.002†

 - Would discuss upon serious clinical deterioration without involving the patient

12(12%)

16(23.9%)

0.044†

 - Uncertain about what to do

5(5%)

6(9%)

0.313†

 - Not comfortable with the decision

19(36.5%)

19(33.3%)

0.157†

 - Lack of time on the part of the attending physician

4(7.7%)

7(12.3%)

0.100†

 - Respect the wishes of the family who refuse to involve the patient.

24(46.2%)

41(71.9%)

0.000†

 - Refusal to discuss prognosis with patient

7(13.5%)

6(10.5%)

0.644†

 - Refusal to inform the patient of his diagnosis

10(19.2%)

3(5.3%)

0.192†

 - Personal belief that the patient does not want to be engaged in these discussions

12(23.1%)

10(17.5%)

0.584†

 - Personal conviction that the discussion is traumatic and a source of anxiety for the patient

17(32.7%)

25(43.9%)

0.003†

 - Physician is better placed through the doctor-patient relationship to determine the course of treatment in the patient's best interest

18(34.6%)

18(31.6%)

0.172†

 - Certain personal characteristics of the patient (ethnicity, culture, religion, age, socioeconomic level

8(15.4%)

14(24.6%)

0.016†

 Not important at all

 Somewhat important

 Important

 Very important

 Fundamental

2(2%)

7(7.1%)

22(22.4%)

39(39.8%)

28(28.6%)

1(1.5%)

3(4.5%)

10(15.2%)

29(43.9%)

23(34.8%)

0.177‡

 Not important at all

 Somewhat important

 Important

 Very important

 Fundamental

0(0%)

16(16.2%)

28(28.3%)

35(35.4%)

20(20.2%)

1(1.5%)

2(3%)

15(22.4%)

30(44.8%)

19(28.4%)

0.018‡