Abdullah Srour Aljoudi

Introduction: End-of-life medical care (ELMC) plans and do-not-resuscitate (DNR) decision-making are usually affected by multiple factors compared to other medical care decisions. ELMC and DNR policy implementation are still diversified and heterogeneous, especially in Saudi Arabia, because policymakers have adopted no guidelines. Thus, this study investigated physicians’ knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding ELMC and DNR. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was adopted. Three hundred physicians working at King Fahad Hospital of the University, Khobar, Saudi Arabia, were randomly selected and administered an anonymous self-administered questionnaire using the Likert scale. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS 23.0. Results: Of 300 distributed questionnaires, 264 (88%) were completed and analysed. Knowledge gaps and negative attitudes were observed, a quarter of the participants were opposed to issuing a DNR order, and 29.0% considered DNR as equal to euthanasia as they practice. The participants’ patient age and religious factors were the most critical factors in the ELMC plan and DNR decision. The physician’s level of acceptance regarding a set of ELMC interventions and DNR decisions showed heterogenicity and uncertainty among participants. Conclusions: The ELMC plan and DNR decision-making should be appropriately addressed in the medical residents’ training programs to bridge the knowledge gap and the physicians’ negative attitudes during their practice. Additionally, there is a need to update and unify the DNR policies at the national level, considering the patient’s right to be informed and involved actively during the decision process making. Finally, more prospective research is needed for the global standardization of ELMC.

Medical paternalism has long been a common medical practice. However, patient autonomy in healthcare has been recently adopted by doctors and patients alike. This study explored whether doctors and patients in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia preferred autonomy or paternalism in shared decision‐making. A total of 118 participants (51 patients requiring total knee replacement, owing to stages 3–4 of osteoarthritis, and 67 doctors) from the Eastern province, Saudi Arabia. responded to a 17‐question category‐based questionnaire involving four scales of autonomy. Descriptive statistics and chi‐square test results revealed that in this hospital, patients preferred a paternalistic approach toward their medical care along with a full disclosure of the risks related to surgical procedures. We recommend health education regarding the specific autonomy subscales (doctor knows best, patient should decide, right to non‐participation, and obligatory risk information), and the implementation of protocols that protect patients' rights and enhance personal autonomy.