title: [Life support treatment preferences in critical health situations].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore citizens' treatment preferences in critical health situations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional study through a questionnaire administered to 306 participants, randomly selected from nursing consultations, cultural centers, nursing homes and the university. Treatment preferences in critical health situations were measured through the Life Support Preferences Questionnaire (LSPQ). A descriptive bivariate and multivariate analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of participants was 39.28 years (SD: 24.52), 37% had primary school or no education, and 29.1% were male. Age was inversely correlated with accepting treatments; thus acceptance of life support measures was lower among participants older than 55 years than among the youngest participants and was also lower among those with a lower educational level than those with a higher educational level. No differences were found between men and women. In serious diseases with no possibility of recovery, all age groups rejected treatment. When there was the potential for recovery or for non-invasive treatments, participants aged 21 years old or older would prefer to be treated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is wide variability among the population when accepting or rejecting life support treatment. The view that treatment should be accepted at all costs is inappropriate. Disseminating knowledge of advance directives and the use of these documents is recommended as the most effective way to respect patients' wishes when they are unable to express themselves.
authors.affiliation: Distrito Sanitario de Granada. Granada. España. imbarrioc@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ines M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Barrio-Cantalejo
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Toral-López
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Carmona-Rega
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quesada-Lupiáñez
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velasco-Rodríguez
authors.forename: Encarnacion
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martínez-Cruz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires