Attitudes toward euthanasia among hospice nurses: Political ideology or religious commitment?

Area of Science:

• Medical Ethics
• Sociology of Health
• Palliative Care Research

Background:

• Existing research links euthanasia attitudes to political ideology and religiosity.
• The specific role of religious commitment in mediating the relationship between political ideology and euthanasia attitudes among hospice nurses requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the relationships between political ideology, religious commitment, and attitudes toward active and passive euthanasia.
• To investigate the mediating role of religious commitment in the association between social political ideology and hospice nurses' views on euthanasia.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 90 hospice nurses participated in an online survey.
• Data were collected on participants' political ideology, religious commitment, and attitudes toward active and passive euthanasia.

Main Results:

• Religious commitment was found to fully mediate the relationship between social political ideology and disapproval of active euthanasia.
• This mediation suggests that religious commitment plays a significant role in how social political ideology influences hospice nurses' stance on active euthanasia.

Conclusions:

• Among hospice nurses, religious commitment is a key factor explaining the connection between social political ideology and disapproval of active euthanasia.
• Findings underscore the importance of considering both religious and political factors when examining end-of-life care attitudes in healthcare professionals.