ArticlePloS one2020
The first nationwide study on facing and solving ethical dilemmas among healthcare professionals in Slovenia.
Article in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- Understanding Employees' Attitudes and Awareness of Code of Ethics and Associated Factors: A Cross-Sectional Survey at a Public Tertiary Hospital in Croatia.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Ethical dilemmas experienced by midwives in their professional practice in Northwestern Ethiopia: a phenomenological interview study.BMC medical ethics · 2025Article
- Conscience clause in brain death care: ethical and legal perspectives of young nurses and midwives in Poland.Frontiers in medicine · 2025Article
- Exploration of clinical ethics consultation in Uganda: a case study of Uganda Cancer Institute.BMC medical ethics · 2024Article
- Moral courage level of nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis.BMC nursing · 2024Article
- Tough Clinical Decisions: Experiences of Polish Physicians.HEC forum : an interdisciplinary journal on hospitals' ethical and legal issues · 2024Article
- Knowledge of and attitudes towards medical research ethics among first year doctoral students in Slovenia at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana.BMC medical education · 2023Article
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Authors and funding
9 authors at 5 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundHealthcare professionals (HCPs), patients and families are often faced with ethical dilemmas. The role of healthcare ethics committees (HECs) is to offer support in these situations.
aimThe primary objective was to study how often HCPs encounter ethical dilemmas. The secondary objective was to identify the main types of ethical dilemmas encountered and how HCPs solve them. SUBJECTS AND
methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, survey-based study among HCPs in 14 Slovenian hospitals. A questionnaire was designed and validated by HCPs who were selected by proportional stratified sampling. Data collection took place between April 2015 and April 2016.
resultsThe final sample size was n = 485 (385 or 79.4%, female). The response rates for HCPs working in secondary and tertiary level institutions were 45% and 51%, respectively. Three hundred and forty (70.4%) of 485 HCPs (very) frequently encountered ethical dilemmas. Frequent ethical dilemmas were waiting periods for diagnostics or treatment, suboptimal working conditions due to poor interpersonal relations on the ward, preserving patients' dignity, and relations between HCPs and patients. Physicians and nurses working in secondary level institutions, compared to their colleagues working in tertiary level institutions, more frequently encountered ethical dilemmas with respect to preserving patients' dignity, protecting patients' information, and relations between HCPs and patients. In terms of solutions, all HCPs most frequently discussed ethical dilemmas with co-workers (colleagues), and with the head of the department. According to HCPs, the most important role of HECs is staff education, followed by improving communication, and reviewing difficult ethical cases.
conclusionsWaiting periods for diagnostics and treatment and suboptimal working conditions due to poor interpersonal relations are considered to be among the most important ethical issues by HCPs in Slovenian hospitals. The most important role of HECs is staff education, improving communication, and reviewing difficult ethical cases.
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