Role of faith in strategies of healthcare professionals in intensive care units in end-of-life decision making

Introduction: Death has always been surrounded by habits in all ages, influenced by cultural and religious differences. Many patients finish their lives at intensive care units where end-of-life decisions are the part of everyday practice in the 21th century. Objective: The goal of our study was to assess how the religious beliefs of physicians and nurses affect their decision on therapy restriction. Method: We have performed questionnaire-based enquiries among physicians and nurses working at intensive care units on how religion affects end-of-life decisions. We have analyzed the anonymous questionnaires filled out by 189 physicians and 105 nurses. Results: Our results have confirmed the hypothesis that religion affects decision making about therapy restriction. Patients' admissions were not affected by religious beliefs, but the number of available patient beds influenced the religious physicians more than the atheists ones or the non-responders (<0.0001). Actively religious physicians complied significantly better with the relatives than atheists (p = 0.0002). Religious nurses would continue patient treatment even against the will of relatives more often than atheists if they see a chance for recovery. Conclusion: The study supports that religion influences physicians and nurses in their end-of-life decisions. Decisions on therapy restriction are complex; it is important to find out religious beliefs and perception of death among patients and families because good end-of-life decision cannot be made disregarding religious considerations.