How health care professionals confront and solve ethical dilemmas – a tale of two countries: Slovenia and Croatia

Scientific paper - Original scientific paper

• Author: Štefan Grosek
• Author: Rok Kučan
• Author: Jon Grošelj
• Author: Miha Oražem
• Author: Urh Grošelj
• Author: Vanja Erčulj
• Author: Karo Lajovic
• Author: Blaž Ivanc
• Author: Milivoj Novak
• Author: Larisa Prpić Massari
• Author: Suzana Mimica Matanović
• Author: Vesna Čerfalvi
• Author: Julije Meštrović
• Author: Ana Borovečki
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Social Medicine and Health Care Organization)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Public Health and Health Care; Social Medicine

Abstract (english)

Aim To assess the differences in the way how Slovenian
and Croatian health care professionals (HCPs) confront ethical dilemmas and perceive the role of hospital ethics committees (HECs). -----
Methods This cross-sectional, survey-based study involved HCPs from three Slovenian and five Croatian university medical centers (UMC). The final sample sizes were
308 (244 or 79.2% women) for Slovenia and 485 (398 or
82.1% women) for Croatia. -----
Results Compared with Croatian physicians, Slovenian
physicians reported a higher share of ethical dilemmas regarding waiting periods for diagnostics or treatment, suboptimal working conditions due to interpersonal relationships in the ward, and end-of-life treatment withdrawal,
and a lower share regarding access to palliative care and
patient information protection. Compared with Croatian
nurses, Slovenian nurses reported a lower share of ethical
dilemmas regarding the distribution of limited resources,
recognizing the patient’s best interests, and access to palliative care. Compared with Croatian other HCPs, Slovenian
other HCPs reported a lower burden of ethical dilemmas
regarding waiting periods for diagnostics or treatment, distribution of limited resources, and access to palliative care.
When encountering an ethical dilemma, all HCPs in both
countries would first consult their colleagues. Slovenian
and Croatian HCPs recognized the importance of the HECs
to a similar extent, but viewed their role differently. -----
Conclusion Croatian and Slovenian HCPs are confronted
with different ethical dilemmas and perceive the role of
HECs differently

• Keywords (english): Croatia; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Health Personnel; Humans; Male; Physicians; Slovenia
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Original scientific paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Croatian Medical Journal
• Numbering: vol. 62, no. 2, pp. 120-129
• p-ISSN: 0353-9504
• e-ISSN: 1332-8166
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3325/cmj.2021.62.120
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:775092
• Publication: 2021-04-30
• Document URL: http://www.cmj.hr/2021/62/2/33938651.htm
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2021-05-05 10:14:38