Evaluation of Emergency Physicians' Knowledge, Attitudes, and Educational Needs Regarding End-of-Life Patient Management: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

Introduction: This study evaluates the self-assessed knowledge, attitudes, and educational needs of emergency physicians in T & uuml;rkiye regarding End-of-Life care (EOLC) to identify barriers and guide training programs. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey was conducted between October 7 and December 7, 2024, using a 24-item Turkish questionnaire. The survey included sections on demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and educational needs related to EOLC. Responses were collected via a 5-point Likert scale and multiple-choice questions. The survey was distributed online and in print to 415 emergency physicians, achieving a 48% response rate (n=200). Results: The majority of respondents (85.5%) reported not having received formal EOLC training, and 41% of them self-assessed their knowledge as inadequate. This self-assessed knowledge was found to be associated with one's professional title. Residents exhibited a higher propensity to report inadequate knowledge compared to specialists (68.5% vs. 25.9%) and faculty members (5.6%) (p=0.021). The importance of privacy for EOLC patients was highlighted by 90% of the participants; 75% expressed support for the involvement of families in decision-making processes; and 70% advocated for the designated "discussion and farewell" room. Key barriers identified included admission barriers, which constituted 20.3% of identified barriers, with 58% rating specialist team support as inaccessible or only partially accessible. Conclusion: This study identifies areas for improvement in emergency physicians' self-assessed knowledge and training related to EOLC, particularly among those who are younger and less experienced. Formal training was linked to increased confidence and perceived competence. Challenges such as insufficient access to specialist teams and systemic obstacles were noted. The findings point to the potential benefits of advancing EOLC education in emergency medicine curricula through a multidisciplinary approach, which could aid physicians in addressing current limitations and enhancing care delivery.