A Challenge for Palliative Psychology: Freedom of Choice at the End of Life among the Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses
This article considers a particular aspect of palliative psychology that is inherent to the needs in the area of attitudes concerning Advance Healthcare Directives (AHDs) among Italian physicians and nurses after the promulgation of Law No. 219/2017 on AHDs and informed consent in 2018. The study ut...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/10/10/160 |
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| author | Ines Testoni Camilla Bortolotti Sara Pompele Lucia Ronconi Gloria Baracco Hod Orkibi |
| author_facet | Ines Testoni Camilla Bortolotti Sara Pompele Lucia Ronconi Gloria Baracco Hod Orkibi |
| author_sort | Ines Testoni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article considers a particular aspect of palliative psychology that is inherent to the needs in the area of attitudes concerning Advance Healthcare Directives (AHDs) among Italian physicians and nurses after the promulgation of Law No. 219/2017 on AHDs and informed consent in 2018. The study utilized a mixed-method approach. The group of participants was composed of 102 healthcare professionals (63 females and 39 males). The quantitative part utilized the following scales: Attitudes toward Euthanasia, the Religious Orientation Scale, the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding, and the Testoni Death Representation Scale. The results were mostly in line with the current literature, especially concerning a positive correlation between religiosity and the participants’ rejection of the idea of euthanasia. However, the qualitative results showed both positive and negative attitudes towards AHDs, with four main thematic areas: “Positive aspects of the new law and of AHDs”, “Negative aspects of the new law and of AHDs”, “Changes that occurred in the professional context and critical incidents”, and “Attitudes towards euthanasia requests.” It emerged that there is not any polarization between Catholics or religious people and secularists: Their positions are substantially similar with respect to all aspects, including with regard to euthanasia. The general result is that the law is not sufficiently understood, and so a quarter of the participants associate AHDs with euthanasia. Discussions on the opportunity for palliative psychologists to help health professionals to better manage these issues through death education courses are presented. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:26:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-880de61277ca40ada1cdb90772210794 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T15:26:40Z |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-880de61277ca40ada1cdb907722107942023-11-20T17:58:43ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2020-10-01101016010.3390/bs10100160A Challenge for Palliative Psychology: Freedom of Choice at the End of Life among the Attitudes of Physicians and NursesInes Testoni0Camilla Bortolotti1Sara Pompele2Lucia Ronconi3Gloria Baracco4Hod Orkibi5Department of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Philosophy, Sociology, Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (FISPPA), University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyStatistical Services, Psychology Multifunctional Center, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, ItalyHome and Palliative Care Department, ULSS n. 2 Marca Trevigiana, Asolo, 31011 Treviso, ItalyEmili Sagol Creative Arts Therapies Research Center, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, IsraelThis article considers a particular aspect of palliative psychology that is inherent to the needs in the area of attitudes concerning Advance Healthcare Directives (AHDs) among Italian physicians and nurses after the promulgation of Law No. 219/2017 on AHDs and informed consent in 2018. The study utilized a mixed-method approach. The group of participants was composed of 102 healthcare professionals (63 females and 39 males). The quantitative part utilized the following scales: Attitudes toward Euthanasia, the Religious Orientation Scale, the Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding, and the Testoni Death Representation Scale. The results were mostly in line with the current literature, especially concerning a positive correlation between religiosity and the participants’ rejection of the idea of euthanasia. However, the qualitative results showed both positive and negative attitudes towards AHDs, with four main thematic areas: “Positive aspects of the new law and of AHDs”, “Negative aspects of the new law and of AHDs”, “Changes that occurred in the professional context and critical incidents”, and “Attitudes towards euthanasia requests.” It emerged that there is not any polarization between Catholics or religious people and secularists: Their positions are substantially similar with respect to all aspects, including with regard to euthanasia. The general result is that the law is not sufficiently understood, and so a quarter of the participants associate AHDs with euthanasia. Discussions on the opportunity for palliative psychologists to help health professionals to better manage these issues through death education courses are presented.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/10/10/160Advance Healthcare Directiveseuthanasiahealthcare professionalspalliative carepalliative psychologydeath education |
| spellingShingle | Ines Testoni Camilla Bortolotti Sara Pompele Lucia Ronconi Gloria Baracco Hod Orkibi A Challenge for Palliative Psychology: Freedom of Choice at the End of Life among the Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses Behavioral Sciences Advance Healthcare Directives euthanasia healthcare professionals palliative care palliative psychology death education |
| title | A Challenge for Palliative Psychology: Freedom of Choice at the End of Life among the Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses |
| title_full | A Challenge for Palliative Psychology: Freedom of Choice at the End of Life among the Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses |
| title_fullStr | A Challenge for Palliative Psychology: Freedom of Choice at the End of Life among the Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Challenge for Palliative Psychology: Freedom of Choice at the End of Life among the Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses |
| title_short | A Challenge for Palliative Psychology: Freedom of Choice at the End of Life among the Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses |
| title_sort | challenge for palliative psychology freedom of choice at the end of life among the attitudes of physicians and nurses |
| topic | Advance Healthcare Directives euthanasia healthcare professionals palliative care palliative psychology death education |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/10/10/160 |
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