Comparison of attitude of nurses and nursing students toward euthanasia.

Abstract

Euthanasia is a controversial issue in many countries. However, there is little evidence about attitudes of nurses and nursing students toward euthanasia. The present study aimed to compare nurses and nursing students' attitudes toward euthanasia. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. Using census sampling, 390 nurses and 125 nursing students were enrolled in this study. Data were collected using a socio-demographic questionnaire and Euthanasia Attitude Scale that included 20 items that sought to record participants' level of agreement with euthanasia based on a Likert-type scale. Objectives of the study were stated for all samples, and emphasized the confidentiality of their specifics and responses, and informed written consent was obtained from all participants. The mean score of nurses and nursing students' attitudes about euthanasia was 3.14 ± 0.26 and 3.22 ± 0.24 out of 5, respectively. The majority of nurses (n = 250, 65.78%) and nursing students (n = 97, 80.83%) had a positive attitude toward euthanasia. There was a significant statistical difference between the attitudes of nurses and nursing students to euthanasia (p = .005). The results indicated that the majority of students and nurses had a positive attitude regarding euthanasia. It was recommended to conduct more studies on euthanasia in Iran.