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Table 5 Variables measured and associated with behavior and/or intention according to health profession

From: Motivations of physicians and nurses to practice voluntary euthanasia: a systematic review

Variables measured

Number of time

Ratio

Assessed

Significant (p < 0.05)

(%)

Physicians (k = 17)

   

Psychological variables

   

Beliefs about consequences

5

2

40.0%

Social/professional role and identity

6

2

33.3%

Moral norm

7

1

14.3%

Beliefs about capabilities

2

1

N/A

Past behavior

1

1

N/A

Emotions

1

0

N/A

Total

22

7

31.8%

Socio-demographic variables

   

Medical specialty, unit and work setting

6

4

66.6%

Religion

9

5

55.5%

Number of terminal patients

3

1

33.3%

Age

5

1

20.0%

Gender

6

1

16.6%

Had training in palliative care

1

1

N/A

Place of birth

1

1

N/A

Years of experience

1

0

N/A

Marital status

1

0

N/A

Total

33

14

42.4%

Patient variables

   

Patient’s life expectancy

4

3

75.0%

Patient’s symptoms and suffering

7

4

57.1%

Patient’s wish

5

1

20.0%

Condition with no prospect of improvement

4

0

0%

Patient depressed

2

2

N/A

Family agreement

2

1

N/A

Loss of dignity

1

0

N/A

To reallocate resources

1

0

N/A

Total

26

11

42.3%

Nurses (k = 9)

   

Psychological variables

   

Past behavior

2

2

N/A

Moral norm

2

1

N/A

Total

4

3

75%

Socio-demographic variables

   

Medical specialty, unit and work setting

3

2

66.6%

Gender

4

2

50.0%

Religion

8

2

25.0%

Level of education

4

1

25.0%

Age

6

0

0%

Years of experience

3

0

0%

Marital status

2

0

N/A

Place of birth

1

0

N/A

Income

1

0

N/A

Ethnicity

1

0

N/A

Total

33

7

21.2%

Patient variables

   

Patient’s symptoms and suffering

2

0

N/A

Patient’s wish

2

0

N/A

Family agreement

2

0

N/A

Patient’s life expectancy

1

0

N/A

Total

7

0

0%

  1. Note. N/A not computed because it was not assessed at least three times.