Levels of exposure to ethical conflict in the ICU: Correlation between sociodemographic variables and the clinical environment. (April 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Falcó-Pegueroles, Anna; Lluch-Canut, Mª Teresa; Martínez-Estalella, Gemma; Zabalegui-Yarnoz, Adelaida; Delgado-Hito, Pilar; Via-Clavero, Gemma; Guàrdia-Olmos, Joan
• Is Part Of: Intensive and critical care nursing. Volume 33(2016)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 20
• Publication Date: 2016-04
• Subjects: Bioethics -- Critical care nursing -- Ethical conflict -- Nursing ethics; Intensive care nursing -- Periodicals; Critical Illness -- nursing -- Periodicals; Intensive Care -- Periodicals; Nursing Care -- Periodicals; Intensive care nursing; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 616.028
• DOI: 10.1016/j.iccn.2015.10.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-3397

Abstract

Summary: Objectives: To analyse the level of exposure of nurses to ethical conflict and determine the relationship between this exposure, sociodemographic variables and perceptions of the clinical environment. Design and setting: Prospective and descriptive correlational study conducted at 10 intensive care units in two tertiary hospitals affiliated to the University of Barcelona. Sociodemographic and professional data were recorded from a questionnaire and then the previously validated Ethical Conflict in Nursing Questionnaire-Critical Care Version was administered to obtain data regarding experiences of ethical conflict. Results: Two hundred and three nurses (68.6%) participated in the study, of whom only 11.8% had training in bioethics. Exposure to ethical conflict was moderate with a x ¯ = 182.35 (SD = 71.304; [0–389]). The realisation that analgesia is ineffective and the administration of treatment without having participated in the decision-making process were the most frequently reported ethical conflicts. Professionals who perceived their environment as supportive for dealing with ethical conflicts reported lower levels of these events ( p = 0.001). Conclusions: Ethical conflict is an internal problem but it is strongly influenced by certain variables and environmental conditions. The involvement of nurses in the decision-making processes regarding the care of critically ill patients emerges as a factor that protects against ethical conflicts.