Yoğun bakım ünitelerinde çalışan hemşirelerin ötenazi hakkındaki düşünceleri

Abstract

This study was planned with the aim of determining opinions of nurses, who work in intensive care units of various hospitals in Denizli province center, about euthanasia. This is a descriptive study designating opinions of nurses, who work in intensive care units of Pamukkale University Hospital, Denizli State Hospital and Server Gazi State Hospital, about euthanasia. 97 nurses (72.4%) out of 134 nurses in those hospitals were reached due to the reasons such as annual leave, maternity leave, sick leave and not wanting to attend the study. The data, were collected by questionnaire, assessed by percentile distribution and Chi-square tests. While 71.1% of nurses accurately described what euthanasia is, 22.7% considered that euthanasia should be legalized in our country. 84.5% stated that in case of a legal regulation is carried out, they do not want to take part in intensive care unit staff. 46.4% of critical care nurses do not want a euthanasia implementation for themselves and 72.2% do not want it for their relatives. A statistically significant different was detected when looking at states of nurses supporting active euthanasia with regard to their age groups. A significant relationship was also found among states of nurses supporting passive euthanasia as far as hospitals they work are concerned (p<0.05). A great majority of nurses are not pro-legalization of euthanasia and in case of it being legalized; they do not want to be a part of the staff. The subject of euthanasia should appear in in-service trainings.