Ethical issues among Finnish occupational physicians and nurses

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Medical Ethics
• Healthcare Professional Training

Background:

• Ethical values and challenges are integral to occupational health services (OHS).
• Recent national ethical guidelines have been published for Finnish occupational physicians and nurses.
• Understanding the current ethical landscape among these professionals is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the ethical values and encountered problems of Finnish occupational physicians and nurses.
• To evaluate the awareness and utilization of existing ethical guidelines and training.
• To identify needs for improved ethics education and practical guidance in OHS.

Main Methods:

• A postal survey was distributed to 200 occupational physicians and nurses in Finland.
• The survey collected data on core ethical values, experienced ethical problems, and training in OHS ethics.
• Respondents' use of national ethical guidelines was also assessed.

Main Results:

• 'Expertise' and 'confidentiality' were identified as the most important core values, aligning with national guidelines.
• Most respondents reported encountering ethically problematic situations, though future gene testing issues were not highly anticipated.
• A significant gap was found in ethics training, with only 41% of nurses and 36% of physicians receiving any, and 76% never using available guidelines.

Conclusions:

• While Finnish occupational health professionals uphold key ethical values, their capacity for self-evaluation appears limited.
• There is a clear need for enhanced, practical ethics training and more accessible national guidelines in OHS.
• Addressing these gaps will improve ethical practice and professional development in the field.