Educational needs of healthcare professionals and members of the general public in Alberta Canada, 2 years after the implementation of medical assistance in dying. (31st May 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wilson, Donna M.; Triscott, Jean A. C.; Cohen, Joachim; MacLeod, Rod
• Is Part Of: Health & social care in the community. Volume 27:Number 5(2019)
• Page Start: 1295
• Page End: 1302
• Publication Date: 2019-05-31
• Subjects: Alberta -- assisted suicide -- Canada -- educational needs -- euthanasia -- survey; Public welfare -- Periodicals; Community health services -- Periodicals; Human services -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1111/hsc.12766
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0966-0410

Abstract

Abstract: Medical assistance in dying (MAID) was implemented across Canada in June of 2016, after each Canadian province and territory had developed their own MAID processes. Over the first 2 years, just under 300 Alberta citizens received MAID services, a very small proportion (<0.5%) of all 52, 000 decedents. An online 2017–2018 survey of Alberta healthcare providers and members of the general public was conducted to assess and compare their knowledge of MAID. A devised brief survey tool was posted online, with broad‐based advertising for voluntary participants. The survey was taken down after 282 Albertans had participated (100+ healthcare professionals and 100+ members of the general public), a non‐representative sample. Through SPSS data analysis, educational needs were clearly evident as only 30.5% knew the correct approximate number of MAID deaths to date, 33.0% correctly identified the point in life when MAID can be done, 48.9% correctly identified the locations where MAID can be performed, 49.3% correctly identified who can stop MAID from being carried out, and 52.8% correctly identified how MAID is performed to end life. Healthcare professionals were significantly more often correct; as were participants born in Canada, university degree holders, working persons, those who identified a religion, had experience with death and dying care, had direct prior experience with death hastening, thought adults had a right to request and receive MAID, had past experience with animal euthanasia, and had hospice/palliative education or work experience. Age, gender, and having previously worked or lived in a country where assisted suicide or euthanasia was performed were not significant for educational needs. These findings indicate new approaches to meet sudden assisted suicide educational needs are needed.