title: [Limits of therapeutic effort. Professional opinions].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In our clinical practice we find the need to care for patients with irreversible conditions, due to advanced age or underlying chronic disease, and a change in the types of disease currently facing the health workforce.The objective of this research was to study the ethical assessment of health professionals in our Hospital on extraordinary life support measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective descriptive study conducted at the Hospital General Universitario de Ciudad Real during the months of April to August 2010. The convenience sample consisted of 189 professionals from different categories working in our hospital during the study period.It included a questionnaire adapted for use in hospitals, comprising 18 items with dichotomous responses.Informed consent was requested and the confidentiality of information ensured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A sample of 189 professionals, of whom 21.7% were male and 78.3% were female. The mean age was 40.39 years SD + 10, with a mode of 31 years.The professionals involved were doctors, nurses and nursing assistants, with an average experience of 15.8% ± 10.4 SD years.A total of 79.9% were in favour of euthanasia, 93.6% against dysthanasia, 92.6% for antidysthanasia, and 99.5% for orthotonasia. The medical group was the one most against the use of euthanasia P=.0001. Differences were found between religious practice and the ethical situations at the end of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Most participants took into account the patient's decision to limit extraordinary measures in terminal disease situations.The study reveals that the effectiveness and usefulness of our clinical practice should include an ethical evaluation by professionals with the patient. It became clear that the majority of the sample of professionals is against over-aggressive treatment, and for a dignified death.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital General Universitario, Ciudad Real, España. papias@terra.es
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Muñoz Camargo
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Martín Tercero
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nuñez Lopez
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Espadas Maeso
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pérez Fernandez-Infantes
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cinjordis Valverde
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leon Rodríguez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moreno Ortiz
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Huertas Díaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008020:Life Support Care / Q000941:ethics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult