Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 1, 2025

An Automated T-maze Based Apparatus and Protocol for Analyzing Delay- and Effort-based Decision Making in Free Moving Rodents
Published on: August 2, 2018
Decision-making process regarding passive euthanasia: Theory of planned behavior framework
Ronit Tsemach1,2, Anat Amit Aharon2
1Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.
Background:
Nurses have an essential role in caring for end-of-life patients. Nevertheless, the nurse's involvement in the passive euthanasia decision-making process is insufficient and lower than expected.
Objectives:
To explore factors associated with nurses' intention to be involved in non-treatment decisions (NTD) regarding passive euthanasia decision-making versus their involvement in the palliative care of patients requesting euthanasia, using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework.
Design:
A cross-sectional study utilizing a random sample.
Participants And Research Context:
The study was conducted in one of the largest hospitals in Israel among 125 nurses employed in internal and surgical care wards. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews between March and April 2019.
Method:
A closed structured questionnaire was developed according to TPB instructions. A paired sample t test and two multiple hierarchical regressions were conducted. Variance explained (R2) and the significance of F change were calculated for each regression. The study used the STROBE statement guideline.
Ethical Considerations:
The study was approved by the hospital's Helsinki Committee (#20.11.2017).
Findings:
A paired sample t test revealed that nurses' involvement in the palliative care of patients requesting passive euthanasia was significantly higher than in NTD regarding euthanasia. Regression analyses revealed that nurses' position and attitudes explain their intention to be involved in decision-making; attitudes and perceived behavioral control explain nurses' intention to be involved in the care of patients requesting euthanasia.
Conclusions:
According to the TPB, nurses' attitudes explained their intention to participate in decision-making regarding passive euthanasia. It is recommended to enhance open discussion of this complex issue to encourage nurses' willingness to participate in NTD decision-making regarding euthanasia.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Ethical Dilemmas II
Decision Making
Automatic decision-making is fast, intuitive, and relies on gut feelings...
Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from...
Ethical Issues
Ethical Concerns in Healthcare:
Standards of Care II
Nursing Ethical Principles II
Consider the following scenario, which illustrates how these principles are applied in the care of Mr. John, a fifty-year-old teacher diagnosed with metastatic liver cancer.
Initially, Mr. John's...

