Perception of Medical Students on the Need for End-of-Life Care: A Q-Methodology Study

Jorge Barros-Garcia-Imhof, Andrés Jiménez-Alfonso, Inés Gómez-Acebo, María Fernández-Ortiz, Jéssica Alonso-Molero, Javier Llorca, Alejandro Gonzalez-Castro and Trinidad Dierssen-Sotos
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Jorge Barros-Garcia-Imhof: Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain
Andrés Jiménez-Alfonso: Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39008 Santander, Spain
Inés Gómez-Acebo: Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain
María Fernández-Ortiz: Marqués de Valdecilla Health Research Institute, IDIVAL, 39011 Santander, Spain
Jéssica Alonso-Molero: Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain
Javier Llorca: Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain
Alejandro Gonzalez-Castro: Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital, 39008 Santander, Spain
Trinidad Dierssen-Sotos: Faculty of Medicine, University of Cantabria, 39005 Santander, Spain

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 13, 1-16

Abstract: End-of-life care and the limitation of therapeutic effort are among the most controversial aspects of medical practice. Many subjective factors can influence decision-making regarding these issues. The Q methodology provides a scientific basis for the systematic study of subjectivity by identifying different thought patterns. This methodology was performed to find student profiles in 143 students at Cantabria University (Spain), who will soon deal with difficult situations related to this topic. A chi-square test was used to compare proportions. We obtained three profiles: the first seeks to ensure quality of life and attaches great importance to the patient’s wishes; the second prioritizes life extension above anything else; the third incorporates the economic perspective into medical decision-making. Those who had religious beliefs were mostly included in profile 2 (48.8% vs. 7.3% in profile 1 and 43.9% in profile 3), and those who considered that their beliefs did not influence their ethical principles, were mainly included in profile 3 (48.5% vs. 24.7% in profile 1 and 26.8% in profile 2). The different profiles on end-of-life care amongst medical students are influenced by personal factors. Increasing the clinical experience of students with terminally ill patients would contribute to the development of knowledge-based opinion profiles and would avoid reliance on personal experiences.

Keywords: end-of-life care; medical students; opinion profile; Q methodology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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