Experiences and attitudes of nurses with the legislation on assisted suicide in Austria.

Autor:	Zeilinger EL; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.; Department of Clinical Research SBG, Academy for Ageing Research, Haus der Barmherzigkeit, Vienna, Austria.; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Petersen A; Faculty of Philosophy and Education, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Brunevskaya N; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Fuchs A; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Wagner T; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.; Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Pietschnig J; Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Kitta A; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Ecker F; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Kum L; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Adamidis F; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Bär J; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Sifuentes Caccire C; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria., Unseld M; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.; Department of Clinical Research SBG, Academy for Ageing Research, Haus der Barmherzigkeit, Vienna, Austria., Masel EK; Division of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Palliative & supportive care [Palliat Support Care] 2024 Oct 11, pp. 1-7. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Oct 11.
DOI:	10.1017/S147895152400107X
Abstrakt:	Objectives: In 2022, assisted suicide (AS) was legalized in Austria. We aimed to investigate the experiences and attitudes of palliative care (PC) and hospice nurses toward AS in Austria after the first year of implementation of the new law. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was distributed online to nurses in every known specialized and general hospice and PC units in Austria ( n = 255 units). The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics, the Assisted Suicide Attitude Scale, the Comfort Discussing Assisted Suicide Scale, and questions on recent experiences with AS requests. We used Spearman's correlation coefficient for determining associations between sociodemographic characteristics and attitudes toward AS, as well as comfort discussing AS. For comparison of frequencies, we applied ꭓ 2 tests. We computed a linear regression model to examine predictors for attitudes toward AS. Results: The total sample were N = 280 nurses. More than half (61.2%) indicated that they had cared for a patient who expressed a wish for AS within the first year of implementation. Though responses varied widely, more nurses expressed support for AS than those were opposed (50.36% and 31.75%, respectively). Factors that statistically contributed to more reluctance toward AS in the regression model were older age, religiousness, and experience of working with patients expressing a wish for AS. Significance of Results: This work provides valuable insight into nurses' perceptions toward the legislation of AS in the first year since the new law was passed. The results can inform the future development of the AS system and support for nurses in end-of-life care, and critically contribute to international discussions on this controversial topic.
Databáze:	MEDLINE
Externí odkaz:	Zobrazit plný text záznamu