End-of-life communication: a retrospective survey of representative general practitioner networks in four countries.

Context: Effective communication is central to high-quality end-of-life care.

Objectives: This study examined the prevalence of general practitioner (GP)-patient discussion of end-of-life topics (according to the GP) in Italy, Spain, Belgium, and The Netherlands and associated patient and care characteristics.

Methods: This cross-sectional, retrospective survey was conducted with representative GP networks.

End-of-life decisions: a cross-national study of treatment preference discussions and surrogate decision-maker appointments.

Background: Making treatment decisions in anticipation of possible future incapacity is an important part of patient participation in end-of-life decision-making. This study estimates and compares the prevalence of GP-patient end-of-life treatment discussions and patients' appointment of surrogate decision-makers in Italy, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands and examines associated factors.

Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective survey was conducted with representative GP networks in four countries.

The effects of women's age and physical appearance on evaluations of attractiveness and social desirability.

Younger people are perceived as possessing a host of socially desirable attributes, some of which are the same traits attributed to attractive people. In the present study, 160 younger and older White Canadians rated the attractiveness and personality traits of 1 of 4 target women. The results indicated an interaction between the participant's age and gender and the age and attractiveness of the target person.