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Lerma-García D, Parra-Fernández ML, Romero-Blanco C, Olmo-Mora MS, Onieva-Zafra MD. Nurses' opinions on euthanasia in Spain: an evaluation using a new version of the EAS. BMC Nurs 2024; 23:517. [PMID: 39075491 PMCID: PMC11287968 DOI: 10.1186/s12912-024-02176-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bioethical dilemmas at the end of life have led to regularization processes for the provision of medical assistance in dying patients in different countries. Since the regulation of euthanasia in Spain in 2021, the euthanasia act has been included as one of the benefits of the health system, which has undergone uneven development and implementation in different autonomous communities. The aim of this study was to review the Spanish version of the Euthanasia Attitude Scale following the partial modification of four items. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with a non-probabilistic sample of Spanish health workers from Islas Baleares. A self-reported sociodemographic questionnaire and the Euthanasia Attitude Scale were used for data collection. The psychometric properties of the scale were assessed, including reliability and validity, using a confirmatory factor analysis and a parallel analysis. RESULTS The Cronbach's alpha of the EAS was α = 0.892, which implies good internal consistency. According to the confirmatory factor analysis, a Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin-value of 0.938 was obtained, and the result of Bartlett's test of sphericity was < 0.001. The questionnaire included four loading factors, which explained up to 56.99% of the variance. The parallel analysis revealed three significant factors and a fourth, less interpretative factor. CONCLUSIONS The EAS-ES-R is a valid instrument for assessing the attitudes toward euthanasia of both trainees and practicing health professionals. It may also be of vital importance in detecting training, support and implementation needs for laws regulating euthanasia in Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Laura Parra-Fernández
- Faculty of Nursing of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La-Mancha, Camilo José Cela 14, Ciudad Real, 13071, Spain
| | - Cristina Romero-Blanco
- Faculty of Nursing of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La-Mancha, Camilo José Cela 14, Ciudad Real, 13071, Spain
| | | | - María Dolores Onieva-Zafra
- Faculty of Nursing of Ciudad Real, University of Castilla-La-Mancha, Camilo José Cela 14, Ciudad Real, 13071, Spain.
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Wibisono S, Mavandadi P, Wilkinson S, Amiot C, Forbat L, Thomas EF, Allen F, Decety J, Noonan K, Minto K, Breen LJ, Kho M, Crane M, Lizzio-Wilson M, Molenberghs P, Louis W. "More support, less distress?": Examining the role of social norms in alleviating practitioners' psychological distress in the context of assisted dying services. DEATH STUDIES 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38597737 DOI: 10.1080/07481187.2024.2337189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
This study explores how providing assisted dying services affects the psychological distress of practitioners. It investigates the influence of professional norms that endorse such services within their field. Study 1 included veterinarians (N = 137, 75.2% female, Mage = 43.1 years, SDage = 12.7 years), and Study 2 health practitioner students (N = 386, 71.0% female, Mage = 21.0 years, SDage = 14.4 years). In both studies, participants indicated their degree of psychological distress following exposure to scenarios depicting assisted dying services that were relevant to their respective situations. In Study 1, we found that higher willingness to perform animal euthanasia was associated with lower distress, as were supportive norms. In Study 2, a negative association between a greater willingness to perform euthanasia and lower psychological distress occurred only when the provision of such services was supported by professional norms. In conclusion, psychological distress is buffered by supportive professional norms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susilo Wibisono
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Payam Mavandadi
- Institute for Social Neuroscience, ISN Psychology, Ivanhoe, Australia
| | - Stuart Wilkinson
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Catherine Amiot
- Department of Psychology, The Université du Quebec à Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Liz Forbat
- Faculty of Social Science, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK
| | - Emma F Thomas
- College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Felicity Allen
- Department of Psychology, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Australia
| | - Jean Decety
- Department of Psychology, and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kerrie Noonan
- School of Psychology, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Australia
- Western NSW Local Health District, Dubbo, Australia
| | - Kiara Minto
- Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Lauren J Breen
- Curtin School of Population Health and Enable Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Madison Kho
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Monique Crane
- School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | - Winnifred Louis
- School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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