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Nursing Ethics
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*Palliative Care
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Perception of Palliative Care and Euthanasia Among Recently Graduated and Experienced Nurses

Tomasz Brzostek

Jagiellonian University, Collegium Medicum, Krakow, Poland

Wim Dekkers

Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, mmbrzost{at}cyf-kr.edu.pl

Zbigniew Zalewski

Jagiellonian University, Collegium Medicum, Krakow, Poland

Anna Januszewska

Jagiellonian University, Collegium Medicum, Krakow, Poland

Maciej Górkiewicz

Jagiellonian University, Collegium Medicum, Krakow, Poland

Palliative care and euthanasia have become the subject of ethical and political debate in Poland. However, the voice of nurses is rarely heard. The aim of this study is to explore the perception of palliative care and euthanasia among recent university bachelor degree graduates and experienced nurses in Poland. Specific objectives include: self-assessment of the understanding of these terms, recognition of clinical cases, potential acceptability of euthanasia, and an evaluation of attitudes towards palliative care and euthanasia. This is an exploratory study. A convenience sample of 206 recent graduates and 252 experienced nurse practitioners were interviewed. A structured questionnaire was used for collecting and interpreting data. Subjective perception of the terms `palliative care' and `euthanasia' was high and consistent with the recognition of clinical cases. The majority of the nurses excluded euthanasia from palliative care. They recognized personal philosophy of life as the most influential factor affecting attitudes towards euthanasia. The importance of the law was valued more highly by the experienced nurses.

Key Words: euthanasia • factors affecting attitudes • nurses' attitudes • palliative care

Nursing Ethics, Vol. 15, No. 6, 761-776 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0969733008095386
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