Cross-referencing French hematology teams’ knowledge and perception of end-of-life situations: a national mixed-methods survey

Abstract Introduction Haematology is a speciality frequently confronted with end-of-life situations, and teams will be concerned by the question of medical assistance in dying. The Ethics Commission of the French Society of Haematology has conducted a survey on the knowledge and perceptions of healt...

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Main Authors: Chloé Prod’homme, Côme Bommier, Laurène Fenwarth, Stephane Moreau, Alice Polomeni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Palliative Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01659-9
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author Chloé Prod’homme
Côme Bommier
Laurène Fenwarth
Stephane Moreau
Alice Polomeni
author_facet Chloé Prod’homme
Côme Bommier
Laurène Fenwarth
Stephane Moreau
Alice Polomeni
author_sort Chloé Prod’homme
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Haematology is a speciality frequently confronted with end-of-life situations, and teams will be concerned by the question of medical assistance in dying. The Ethics Commission of the French Society of Haematology has conducted a survey on the knowledge and perceptions of healthcare professionals regarding complex end-of-life situations. Methods A cross-sectionalonline survey of hematology professionals in France. The comprehensive online questionnaire addressed respondents’ experience of complex end-of-life situations in hematology, based on 7 clinical vignettes. The survey contained 55 questions, 6 of which were open-ended. They were asked to give their opinion on whether it should be legalized. Justifications were then requested and analyzed by theme. Results The survey was distributed to associations of hematology healthcare professionals (approximately 1,300 members). Overall, 182 healthcare professionals replied, including a third nurses and a third physicians. The average score for identifying complex situations was 7.1 out of 10 (IQR 5.7,8.6), with lesser knowledge of situations involving double effect, euthanasia and sedation for distress than of situations involving limiting or stopping treatment. Training in palliative care was the main driver of knowledge (p = 0.004), as well as being a physician (p < 0.001). We found that the opinions of healthcare professionals regarding the legalization of medical assistance in dying in France were diverse and well-founded. Conclusion Hematology healthcare professionals had lesser knowledge of situations involving double effect, euthanasia and sedation for distress. Knowledge of specific situations impacts professionals’ opinion on legalization of medical assistance in dying.
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spelling doaj-art-2d4c0dd7a8f74b2e92836db15a8258372025-02-02T12:47:35ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2025-01-0124111010.1186/s12904-025-01659-9Cross-referencing French hematology teams’ knowledge and perception of end-of-life situations: a national mixed-methods surveyChloé Prod’homme0Côme Bommier1Laurène Fenwarth2Stephane Moreau3Alice Polomeni4Univ. Lille, ULR 2694 METRICS, CHU LilleHôpital St Louis, Inserm U1153 ECSTRRA Team, Hémato-Oncologie DMU DIHUniv. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, UMR9020-U1277 - CANTHER - Cancer Heterogeneity Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, CHU Lille, Hematology LaboratoryCH Brive Hematology, Boulevard Verlhac 19032Department of clinical hematology and cellular therapy, Hôpital Saint Antoine, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de ParisAbstract Introduction Haematology is a speciality frequently confronted with end-of-life situations, and teams will be concerned by the question of medical assistance in dying. The Ethics Commission of the French Society of Haematology has conducted a survey on the knowledge and perceptions of healthcare professionals regarding complex end-of-life situations. Methods A cross-sectionalonline survey of hematology professionals in France. The comprehensive online questionnaire addressed respondents’ experience of complex end-of-life situations in hematology, based on 7 clinical vignettes. The survey contained 55 questions, 6 of which were open-ended. They were asked to give their opinion on whether it should be legalized. Justifications were then requested and analyzed by theme. Results The survey was distributed to associations of hematology healthcare professionals (approximately 1,300 members). Overall, 182 healthcare professionals replied, including a third nurses and a third physicians. The average score for identifying complex situations was 7.1 out of 10 (IQR 5.7,8.6), with lesser knowledge of situations involving double effect, euthanasia and sedation for distress than of situations involving limiting or stopping treatment. Training in palliative care was the main driver of knowledge (p = 0.004), as well as being a physician (p < 0.001). We found that the opinions of healthcare professionals regarding the legalization of medical assistance in dying in France were diverse and well-founded. Conclusion Hematology healthcare professionals had lesser knowledge of situations involving double effect, euthanasia and sedation for distress. Knowledge of specific situations impacts professionals’ opinion on legalization of medical assistance in dying.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01659-9End-of-life careSurveysHematologyEuthanasia
spellingShingle Chloé Prod’homme
Côme Bommier
Laurène Fenwarth
Stephane Moreau
Alice Polomeni
Cross-referencing French hematology teams’ knowledge and perception of end-of-life situations: a national mixed-methods survey
BMC Palliative Care
End-of-life care
Surveys
Hematology
Euthanasia
title Cross-referencing French hematology teams’ knowledge and perception of end-of-life situations: a national mixed-methods survey
title_full Cross-referencing French hematology teams’ knowledge and perception of end-of-life situations: a national mixed-methods survey
title_fullStr Cross-referencing French hematology teams’ knowledge and perception of end-of-life situations: a national mixed-methods survey
title_full_unstemmed Cross-referencing French hematology teams’ knowledge and perception of end-of-life situations: a national mixed-methods survey
title_short Cross-referencing French hematology teams’ knowledge and perception of end-of-life situations: a national mixed-methods survey
title_sort cross referencing french hematology teams knowledge and perception of end of life situations a national mixed methods survey
topic End-of-life care
Surveys
Hematology
Euthanasia
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01659-9
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