Titel
Experiences and attitudes of nurses with the legislation on assisted suicide in Austria
Autor*in
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Abstract
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 ꭓ2 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.
Stichwort
Assisted dyingassisted suicideadvance healthcare directiveeuthanasiapalliative carenursingterminal care
Objekt-Typ
Sprache
Englisch [eng]
Persistent identifier
phaidra.univie.ac.at/o:2127642
Erschienen in
Titel
Palliative and Supportive Care
Band
22
Ausgabe
6
ISSN
1478-9515
Erscheinungsdatum
2024
Seitenanfang
2022
Seitenende
2028
Publication
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Erscheinungsdatum
2024
Zugänglichkeit
Rechte
Rechteangabe
© The Author(s), 2024
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