Survival at the threshold of viability: a nationwide survey of the opinions and attitudes of physicians in a developing country.

BACKGROUND

To explore physicians' opinions and attitudes regarding resuscitation of extremely premature infants (EPIs) in a developing country with suboptimal resources.

METHODS

A survey was developed, revised, and pilot-tested. All 964 paediatricians registered in the Lebanese Order of Physicians were contacted; physicians involved in resuscitation of EPIs were eligible. Between February and April of 2009, anonymous surveys were mailed to consenting participants.

RESULTS

Three hundred twenty-eight eligible physicians agreed to participate. One hundred twenty (36%) returned the survey, 45.3% of which were neonatologists. The vast majority agreed that parents would like to be informed and to participate in the resuscitation decision of an EPI. The majority of physicians considered infants at gestational age of ≤25 weeks (78%) or ≤800 g (89%) as non-viable. Physician's age, years of practice, and practising neonatal intensive care unit level were significantly associated with the choice of birthweight at which infants were considered non-viable.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of surveyed physicians consider infants at gestational age less than or equal to 25 weeks gestation or 800 g at birth as non-viable, and therefore would not attempt their resuscitation. Factors influencing threshold of viability in developing countries need to be addressed and explored further.