title: Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: knowledge, attitudes and experiences of nurses in Andalusia (Spain).
abstract: The aim of this study is to assess the knowledge, attitudes and experiences of Spanish nurses in relation to euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. In an online questionnaire completed by 390 nurses from Andalusia, 59.1% adequately identified a euthanasia situation and 64.1% a situation involving physician-assisted suicide. Around 69% were aware that both practices were illegal in Spain, while 21.4% had received requests for euthanasia and a further 7.8% for assisted suicide. A total of 22.6% believed that cases of euthanasia had occurred in Spain and 11.4% believed the same for assisted suicide. There was greater support (70%) for legalisation of euthanasia than for assisted suicide (65%), combined with a greater predisposition towards carrying out euthanasia (54%), if it were to be legalised, than participating in assisted suicide (47.3%). Nurses in Andalusia should be offered more education about issues pertaining to the end of life, and extensive research into this area should be undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Andalusian School of Public Health, Spain. mariai.tamayo.easp@juntadeandalucia.es
authors.forename: María-Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Tamayo-Velázquez
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simón-Lorda
authors.forename: Maite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruz-Piqueras
mesh_terms: D004993:Ethics, Nursing; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013030:Spain; D017236:Suicide, Assisted