Perceived Benefits of Ethics Consultation Differ by Profession: A Qualitative Survey Study. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Friedrich, Annie B.; Kohlberg, Elizabeth M; R. Malone, Jay
• Is Part Of: AJOB empirical bioethics. Volume 14:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 50
• Page End: 54
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Clinical ethics -- ethics consultation -- pediatrics -- nursing; Bioethics -- Periodicals; Bioethics -- Research -- Periodicals; Bioethics -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Medical ethics -- Periodicals; 174.205
• DOI: 10.1080/23294515.2022.2093423
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2329-4515

Abstract

Abstract: Background: There are numerous benefits to ethics consultation services, but little is known about the reasons different professionals may or may not request an ethics consultation. Inter-professional differences in the perceived utility of ethics consultation have not previously been studied. Methods: To understand profession-specific perceived benefits of ethics consultation, we surveyed all employees at an urban tertiary children's hospital about their use of ethics committee services (n = 842). Results: Our findings suggest that nurses and physicians find ethics consultations useful for different reasons; physicians were more likely to report normative benefits, while nurses were more likely to report communicative and relational benefits. Conclusions: These findings support an open model of ethics consultation and may also help ethics committees to better understand consultation requests and remain attuned to the needs of various professional groups.