Perceptions of Artificial Nutrition and Hydration at the End of Life Among Healthcare Professionals, Medical Students, and Lay Respondents: A Cross-Sectional Comparative Survey.

Background/

Objectives

Artificial Nutrition and Hydration (ANH) at the end of life remains a clinically and ethically complex intervention. Although international guidelines exist, data regarding the awareness of them and their perceived applicability across different population groups remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate and compare perceptions and attitudes regarding ANH among healthcare professionals, medical students, and lay respondents.

Methods

A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based comparative survey was conducted between July 2025 and March 2026, including 470 respondents (338 healthcare professionals, 46 medical students, and 86 lay respondents). The survey assessed perceptions of ANH, factors influencing decision-making, and familiarity with clinical guidelines and legislation.

Results

General perceptions regarding ANH were broadly similar across groups. Significant differences were observed for the importance assigned to estimated life expectancy (p < 0.001) and family opinion (p = 0.017). Associations were identified between study group and opinions on clinical guidelines (χ2(6) = 16.366, p = 0.012) and legislation (χ2(6) = 14.712, p = 0.023), with lack of knowledge more frequent among lay respondents and students. Within healthcare professionals, physicians and nurses showed significantly different responses regarding guidelines (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In this cross-sectional survey, perceptions of ANH at the end of life were largely shared, but differed in relation to prognostic factors, family involvement, and awareness of guidelines and legislation, suggesting the presence of relevant knowledge gaps in end-of-life decision-making.