Introduction: This study aimed to determine nurses perceptions and experiences with futile medical care and their opinions about principles of good death. Materials and Method: This descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 state hospitals and 3 university hospitals in Ankara, Turkey. It included 856 nurses working in intensive care and oncology units. A questionnaire, which included demographics and futile medical care practices and the Attitudes toward Principles about Dying with Dignity Scale were used. Results: Participants were on average 30.49 ± 6.12 years old 92.3% were women, 61.7% were married and 62.7% had a bachelors degree. Nurses defined medical care as futile when it was not affecting quality of life (35.4%), not curing the disease (46.8%) and prolonging the suffering of the patient (42.9%). They stated that futile care was continued because of hospital policy (32.9%), doctors decision (54.9%) or patients or relatives decision (29.3%). Three of every four nurses stated that good death principles were not applied at their hospital. We found that attitudes toward death improved as nurses education level increased (p = .001), and women had higher scale scores than men (p < .001). Conclusion: Nurses were generally not satisfied with end-of-life care. Extending life, while ignoring the quality thereof, remains a major ethical dilemma for health professionals.
Alan : Sağlık Bilimleri
Dergi Türü : Uluslararası
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