The Attitudes of Nurses Working in Intensive Care and Medical- Surgical Units of Teaching Hospitals of Tabriz towards Euthanasia and Its Correlation with Nurses' Self-Esteem and Self-Efficacy in 1401

Abstract

Absrtact Background: Euthanasia means easy death or mercy killing. The Nurses because of their very important role in taking care and the nature of their job, are faced with requests for euthanasia more than other care givers. Therefore, it is important to consider their attitudes toward euthanasia. This attitude can be influenced by the demographic and psychological characteristics. Therefore, the current study aimed at examining the attitudes of nurses working in Intensive care and Medical-Surgical Units of Teaching Hospitals of Tabriz towards Euthanasia and relations with self-esteem and self-efficacy. Metod and Material: This research is a descriptive correlational study that was conducted on 400 nurses working in Intensive Care and Medical – Surgical Units (194 ICUs and 206 Medical – Surgical nurses) in the teaching hospitals of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 1401. Data were collected using a demographic variables checklist, Holloway's attitude towards Euthanasia scale, Schwarzer & Jerusalem general self-efficacy and Rosenberg self-esteem scale. The data were analyzed using the statistical tests ( ANOVA and T-test ) by SPSS software version 24. Finding: Results of the study showed that 65% and 35% of the nurses had negative and positive attitudes toward euthanasia. The mean of self-esteem (25.43 ± 2.09) and the mean of self-efficacy of nurses (35.35 ± 4.48) were obtained, which indicated high self-esteem and self-efficacy of nurses No significant relationship was found between the attitude towards euthanasia , self-esteem , self-efficacy and any of the demographic variables (p≥0.05). But there was a positive correlation between self-esteem and self-efficacy (P=≤ 0.001). Conclusions: The results of the study showed that most of the nurses (65%) had negative viewpoint on euthanasia. While 35% of participating nurses have a positive attitude and agree with this phenomenon. Self-esteem and self-efficacy are two main psychological components that lead to the best solution of ethical and clinical issues. Therefore, education officials and nursing managers should take this percentage of positive attitude and agreement with athanasia seriously and by developing educational programs, take a more effective step towards changing the attitudes of nurses, increasing self-esteem, self-efficacy, and ultimately increasing the safety of patients that athanasia is about. It is important to take them.