Nurses' attitudes towards end-of-life decisions in medical practice: a nationwide study in Flanders, Belgium

Palliat Med. 2009 Oct;23(7):649-58. doi: 10.1177/0269216309106810. Epub 2009 Jul 15.

Abstract

We investigated on a nationwide level the attitudes of nurses towards end-of-life decisions (ELDs) that may hasten death and towards their role in those decisions. We took a representative random sample of 6000 nurses in Flanders, Belgium. Response rate was 62.5%. Most nurses agreed with the practice of withholding/withdrawing potentially life-prolonging treatments (93%), with decisions to alleviate symptoms with possible life-shortening side effects (96%) and with the practice of euthanasia (92%). Their support for the different decisions existed regardless of whether they had cared for terminally ill patients or not. Most nurses also thought that they have an important role to play especially in the ELD-making process. Nurses' views on their proper role in the administration of drugs in euthanasia and continuous deep sedation showed a large dispersal. Overall, nurses' work setting determines their opinions on nurses' role in ELDs. In conclusion, nurses accept a wide variety of ELDs being practiced with terminally ill patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Belgium
  • Decision Making / ethics
  • Deep Sedation / ethics
  • Deep Sedation / psychology
  • Euthanasia* / ethics
  • Euthanasia* / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nurse's Role*
  • Nurse-Patient Relations / ethics
  • Nursing Staff* / psychology
  • Palliative Care* / ethics
  • Palliative Care* / psychology
  • Palliative Care* / standards
  • Quality of Life / psychology
  • Religion
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Terminal Care*
  • Withholding Treatment / ethics