[1] [2, 3] [4, 5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
[10, 11]
APPENDIX 1: Search strategy
We searched Medline (PubMed 1966-December 2012) for papers describing or analysing physician influence on ELDM in intensive care using the following search terms: (("withholding treatment"[MeSH Terms])) OR (decision making) OR “do not resuscitate” OR “resuscitation orders”))
AND ((variation OR variability OR consisten*) OR ("attitude of health personnel"[MeSH Terms]) OR
("Physicians/psychology"[MeSH Terms])) AND ("intensive care units"[MeSH Terms] OR ("critical care"[MeSH Terms]) OR ("intensive care"[MeSH Terms]) OR ("intensive care" OR "Critical care")).
The initial search was performed in June 2011, and repeated in 2012. Additional papers were identified from the reference lists of identified papers and from the personal libraries of the authors. The search identified 1124 papers of which 69 were potentially relevant from review of the title and abstract and were reviewed in full-text. 11 additional papers were identified from reference lists and the authors’ own files.
Additional references for table 2
REFERENCES e1. Christakis NA, Asch DA (1995) Physician characteristics associated with decisions to withdraw life support. Am J Pub Health 85: 367-372. e2. Cuttini M, Nadai M, Kaminski M, Hansen G, de Leeuw R, Lenoir S, Persson
J, Rebagliato M, Reid M, de Vonderweid U, Lenard HG, Orzalesi M, Saracci
R (2000) End-of-life decisions in neonatal intensive care: physicians' selfreported practices in seven European countries. EURONIC Study Group.
Lancet 355: 2112-2118. e3. Cook D, Guyatt G, Jaeschke R, Reeve J, Spanier A, King D, MOLLOY D,
Willan A, Streiner D (1995) Determinants in Canadian Health-Care Workers of the Decision to Withdraw Life-Support From the Critically Ill. JAMA 273:
703-708. e4. Kelly WF, Eliasson AH, Stocker DJ, Hnatiuk OW (2002) Do specialists differ on do-not-resuscitate decisions? Chest 121: 957-963. e5. Hardart MK, Burns JP, Truog RD (2002) Respiratory support in spinal muscular atrophy type I: a survey of physician practices and attitudes.
Pediatrics 110: e24. e6. Forte DN, Vincent J-L, Velasco IT, Park M (2012) Association between education in EOL care and variability in EOL practice: a survey of ICU physicians. Intensive Care Med 38: 404-412. doi: 10.1007/s00134-011-2400-4

e7. Nightingale SD, Grant M (1988) Risk preference and decision making in critical care situations. Chest 93: 684-687. e8. Barr P (2007) Relationship of neonatologists' end-of-life decisions to their personal fear of death. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 92: F104-107. doi:
10.1136/adc.2006.094151 e9. Sprung CL, Cohen SL, Sjokvist P, Baras M, Bulow HH, Hovilehto S, Ledoux
D, Lippert A, Maia P, Phelan D, Schobersberger W, Wennberg E, Woodcock
T (2003) End-of-life practices in European intensive care units: the Ethicus
Study. JAMA 290: 790-797. e10. Ganz FD, Benbenishty J, Hersch M, Fischer A, Gurman G, Sprung CL (2006)
The impact of regional culture on intensive care end of life decision making: an Israeli perspective from the ETHICUS study. J Med Ethics 32: 196-199. doi: 10.1136/jme.2005.012542 e11. Rebagliato M, Cuttini M, Broggin L, Berbik I, de Vonderweid U, Hansen G,
Kaminski M, Kollée LA, Kucinskas A, Lenoir S, Levin A, Persson J, Reid M,
Saracci R, Units) ESGEPoPIaEDMiNIC (2000) Neonatal end-of-life decision making: Physicians' attitudes and relationship with self-reported practices in
10 European countries. JAMA 284: 2451-2459.