THE INFLUENCE OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE ON ETHICAL ATTITUDES IN NEONATAL INTENSIVE-CARE

A cross-sectional survey of medical students, pediatrics residents, an d neonatologists attempted to identify the combined influence of educa tion and experience on ethical attitudes regarding the management of i nfants weighing less than 750 g at birth. Of the 120 people surveyed, 94 (78%) returned usable surveys. All groups rated quality of life the most important criterion in treatment decisions. Conversely, cost was rated least important by each group. In addition, cost was rated rela tively more important by the clinical medical students than by the pre clinical students, residents, or neonatologists. The neonatologist was rated the most important decision maker by the neonatologists and the residents. The parents were rated most important by both groups of st udents. Severe mental retardation was regarded as an unacceptable qual ity of life by 82% of the neonatologists, 63% of the residents, 61% of the clinical students, and 48% of the preclinical students. Severe ce rebral palsy was considered an unacceptable quality of life by 73% of the neonatologists, 63% of the residents, 50% of the clinical students , and only 32% of the preclinical students. Finally, the anticipated l ong-term outcome of extremely-low-birth-weight infants was viewed more positively by the neonatologists than by the other groups surveyed.