Table 3

Summary of responses to five opinion-based questions (all results are percentages)

QuestionGeneral public (n=65)Patients with COPD (n=62)Managers (n=10)Ambulance crew (n=68)Nurses (n=22)Doctors (n=22)
1If you had a heart attack and were told that there was disagreement among scientists as to whether oxygen might help you get better or may possibly make you worse what would be your view?
aI would trust the ambulance crew to give the right dose of oxygen776330481418
bI would want oxygen as a precaution3152015518
cI would not want oxygen in case it might harm me320390
dI would want to discuss various options121620283250
eI have a different view0020190
Blank 551043214
2If you had a heart attack, how would you feel about taking part in a trial of oxygen therapy?
aI would be keen to take part37291028927
bI would not want to take part1813201099
cI would want a detailed explanation264020403232
dHappy to take part and to discuss later86307149
eI have a different view3510759
Blank861073214
3Do you believe that oxygen is helpful for most medical emergencies?687920411836
4Do you have any concerns that oxygen may be harmful in some medical emergencies?2535100736455
5aDo you think that it is right to allow researchers to undertake a randomised trial of oxygen therapy in circumstances where a patient is acutely unwell and cannot realistically give informed consent at the time when treatment is needed?434570605068
5bWould it be reasonable to place patients in such a trial in an emergency and obtain consent later?555640575073
  • COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.