Exploring the Correlation Between Personality and Occupational Variables of the Nurse and Between Attitudes and Behavioral Intentions Towards Euthanasia

ABSTRACT

This research focuses on the factors that influence nurse’ stands towards mercy killing and on the relationship between these factors and the intention of action among nurses in hospitals. Within this research, the theory of Reasoned Action of Fishbein & Ajzen is used. The purpose of this theory is to understand the individual’s behavior and to predict it. With it, there is an attempt to explain the process of an individual’s decision-making concerning their behavior. Using convenient sampling, several questionnaires were filled by 100 hospitals nurses. The research hypothesises relate to the relationship between variables and nurses’ view towards mercy killing. The hypotheses have also related to the relationship between nurses’ stand and behavioral intention, and the factors that influence the stance and the behavior intention. Finding showed that the extent of religiousness and level of academic education is a good predictor of attitudes towards euthanasia among nurses. Also, that some Situational variables such as - the kind of disease, the patient’s age and the relationship between the patient and the caregiver have influence on attitudes towards euthanasia and behavioral intention.