Exploring societal solidarity in the context of extreme prematurity
QUESTION Extreme prematurity can result in long-term disabilities. Its impact on society is often not taken into account and deemed controversial. Our study examined attitudes of the Swiss population regarding extreme prematurity and people’s perspectives regarding the question of solida...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)
2017-03-01
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| Series: | Swiss Medical Weekly |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2280 |
| _version_ | 1811194341474959360 |
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| author | Manya J. Hendriks Hans Ulrich Bucher Sabine D. Klein Jürg C. Streuli Ruth Baumann-Hölzle Jean-Claude Fauchère |
| author_facet | Manya J. Hendriks Hans Ulrich Bucher Sabine D. Klein Jürg C. Streuli Ruth Baumann-Hölzle Jean-Claude Fauchère |
| author_sort | Manya J. Hendriks |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
QUESTION
Extreme prematurity can result in long-term disabilities. Its impact on society is often not taken into account and deemed controversial. Our study examined attitudes of the Swiss population regarding extreme prematurity and people’s perspectives regarding the question of solidarity with disabled people.
METHODS
We conducted a nationwide representative anonymous telephone survey with 1210 Swiss residents aged 18 years or older. We asked how people estimate their own personal solidarity, the solidarity of their social environment and the solidarity across the country with disabled persons. Spearman’s correlation calculations were used to assess if a correlation exists between solidarity and setting financial limits to intensive care and between solidarity and withholding neonatal intensive care.
RESULTS
According to 36.0% of the respondents intensive medical care should not be withheld from extremely preterm infants, even if their chances for an acceptable quality of life were poor. For 28.8%, intensive care should be withheld from these infants, and 26.9% held an intermediate position depending on the situation. A total of 31.5% were against setting a financial limit to treatment of extremely preterm newborns with an uncertain future quality of life, 34.2% were in favour and 26.9% were deliberating. A majority (88.8%) considered their solidarity toward disabled people as substantial; the solidarity of their personal environment and of the society at large was estimated as high by 79.1% and 48.6%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
The Swiss population expressed a high level of solidarity which may alleviate some pressure on parents and health care providers in the decision-making process in neonatal intensive care units. In addition, there was no relationship between solidarity and people’s willingness to pay for the care or withholding treatment of extremely preterm babies.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:24:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-58bf62b0d3ce473d9c9145740bce2246 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-3997 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T00:24:10Z |
| publishDate | 2017-03-01 |
| publisher | SMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Swiss Medical Weekly |
| spelling | doaj.art-58bf62b0d3ce473d9c9145740bce22462022-12-22T03:55:34ZengSMW supporting association (Trägerverein Swiss Medical Weekly SMW)Swiss Medical Weekly1424-39972017-03-01147091010.4414/smw.2017.14418Exploring societal solidarity in the context of extreme prematurityManya J. Hendriks0Hans Ulrich Bucher1Sabine D. Klein2Jürg C. Streuli3Ruth Baumann-Hölzle4Jean-Claude Fauchère5Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Centre, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland.Department of Neonatology, Perinatal Centre, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Neonatology, Perinatal Centre, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, SwitzerlandInstitute of Biomedical Ethics and History of Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland.Dialogue Ethics Foundation, Interdisciplinary Institute for Ethics in Health Care, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Neonatology, Perinatal Centre, University Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Switzerland QUESTION Extreme prematurity can result in long-term disabilities. Its impact on society is often not taken into account and deemed controversial. Our study examined attitudes of the Swiss population regarding extreme prematurity and people’s perspectives regarding the question of solidarity with disabled people. METHODS We conducted a nationwide representative anonymous telephone survey with 1210 Swiss residents aged 18 years or older. We asked how people estimate their own personal solidarity, the solidarity of their social environment and the solidarity across the country with disabled persons. Spearman’s correlation calculations were used to assess if a correlation exists between solidarity and setting financial limits to intensive care and between solidarity and withholding neonatal intensive care. RESULTS According to 36.0% of the respondents intensive medical care should not be withheld from extremely preterm infants, even if their chances for an acceptable quality of life were poor. For 28.8%, intensive care should be withheld from these infants, and 26.9% held an intermediate position depending on the situation. A total of 31.5% were against setting a financial limit to treatment of extremely preterm newborns with an uncertain future quality of life, 34.2% were in favour and 26.9% were deliberating. A majority (88.8%) considered their solidarity toward disabled people as substantial; the solidarity of their personal environment and of the society at large was estimated as high by 79.1% and 48.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The Swiss population expressed a high level of solidarity which may alleviate some pressure on parents and health care providers in the decision-making process in neonatal intensive care units. In addition, there was no relationship between solidarity and people’s willingness to pay for the care or withholding treatment of extremely preterm babies. https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2280disabilityextreme prematuritypopulation surveyresource allocationsolidaritySwitzerland |
| spellingShingle | Manya J. Hendriks Hans Ulrich Bucher Sabine D. Klein Jürg C. Streuli Ruth Baumann-Hölzle Jean-Claude Fauchère Exploring societal solidarity in the context of extreme prematurity Swiss Medical Weekly disability extreme prematurity population survey resource allocation solidarity Switzerland |
| title | Exploring societal solidarity in the context of extreme prematurity |
| title_full | Exploring societal solidarity in the context of extreme prematurity |
| title_fullStr | Exploring societal solidarity in the context of extreme prematurity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring societal solidarity in the context of extreme prematurity |
| title_short | Exploring societal solidarity in the context of extreme prematurity |
| title_sort | exploring societal solidarity in the context of extreme prematurity |
| topic | disability extreme prematurity population survey resource allocation solidarity Switzerland |
| url | https://www.smw.ch/index.php/smw/article/view/2280 |
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