title: Levels of exposure to ethical conflict in the ICU: Correlation between sociodemographic variables and the clinical environment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  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.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Consolidated Research Group 2014-326 Advanced Statistical Techniques Applied Psychology, University of Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: annafalco@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falcó-Pegueroles
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Consolidated Research Group 2014-1139 GEIMAC, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lluch-Canut
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitari Bellvitge, University of Barcelona l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martínez-Estalella
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clínic Universitari, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Adelaida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zabalegui-Yarnoz
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Delgado-Hito
authors.affiliation: Hospital Universitari Bellvitge, University of Barcelona l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Via-Clavero
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, Consolidated Research Group 2014-326 Advanced Statistical Techniques Applied Psychology, Research Institute on Brain, Cognition and Behaviour (IR3C), University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guàrdia-Olmos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000941:ethics*; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000941:ethics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bioethics; Critical care nursing; Ethical conflict; Nursing ethics