Conocimientos y actitudes que poseen los estudiantes de enfermería sobre eutanasia en pacientes terminales. Cuenca 2017

Abstract

Background: The application of euthanasia in recent years has become controversial internationally. The objective of this analysis is to identify the knowledge and attitudes that Nursing students have about euthanasia in terminal patients.

Methodology: quantitative, observational, descriptive cross-sectional study, 191 students were evaluated; as a technique, the survey was used in relation to knowledge and attitudes and as a tool a form prepared by the authors; a pilot test was carried out. The analysis of the information was made through the SPSS program version 15 for Windows.

Results: 72.3% of the students reported agreeing with euthanasia, 94.8% reported not having witnessed it, 80.1% considered that this practice is a feasible method to relieve the pain of a terminal patient, the 57.6% report that ending a person's life is a sin, the female sex was associated with the acceptance of euthanasia, and the cycle where the students were with the question of whether they considered euthanasia a sin. 32.5% strongly disagree that euthanasia is a homicide, while the largest proportion was undecided when questioned as a sin, an ethical act and a dignified death, 12.6% is in agreement with Do not practice euthanasia under any circumstances.

Use of results: the results obtained in the present study will serve as a scientific basis to begin making decisions regarding the practice of euthanasia, in the same way it is a description of the situation of the nursing staff and their perception with respect to it, serving as a starting point to raise awareness of this topic that is usually reserved.