Patients from hospital wards were less likely to have family conferences [ odds ratio ( OR ) 0.68 , 95 % CI 0.52 , 0.88 , p = 0.004 ] or discussion of prognosis in the first 72 h after ICU admission ( OR 0.72 , 95 % CI 0.56 , 0.91 , p = 0.007 ) but were more likely to receive spiritual care ( OR 1.48 , 95 % CI 1.14 , 1.93 , p = 0.003 ) or have life support withdrawn ( OR 1.38 , 95 % CI 1.04 , 1.82 , p = 0.025 ) .