title: Social and professional determinants for withdrawing and withholding chronic dialysis among polish pediatric nephrologists, neonatologists and anesthesiologists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this multicenter nationwide study was to reveal the influence of social and non-medical factors on qualifying children to commence chronic dialysis, to withhold it or to withdraw it. It was also important to compare the real and postulated significance of particular factors that were taken under consideration by pediatric nephrologists, neonatologists and anesthesiologists (intensivists).
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was addressed to the whole population of specialists dealing with chronic renal replacement therapy for children at key pediatric nephrology centers in Poland.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the respondents accepted that withholding or withdrawing chronic dialysis is an alternative in certain clinical situations. The statistical analysis showed that the physicians' social characteristics had little influence on their preferences when deciding about withholding or withdrawing chronic dialysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed that non-medical factors did not influence physicians' attitudes to the problem of withholding or withdrawing chronic dialysis.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Didactics Unit, 4th Chair of Pediatrics, Medical University of Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tkaczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Immunology, Nephrology Division, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jander
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, Chair of Humanities, Medical University of Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Jakub R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stempień