KNOWLADGE, ATTITUDE, PRACTICE AND ASSOCOIATED FACTORS OF MEDICAL ETHICS AMONG NURSES IN SPHMMC STUDENT RESEARCH RESULT DOCUMENT SUBMITTED TO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, SPHMMC.

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: - Ethics is defined as a systematic or scientific study of morality (of human acts through the medium of natural reason).Medical ethics has developed into a well based discipline which acts as a "bridge" between theoretical bioethics and the bedside. Its goal is to improve the quality of patient care by identifying, analyzing, and attempting to resolve the ethical problems that arise in practice. Objective: - of the research is to study the possession of basic knowledge, attitude and practice of medical ethics and associated actors among nurses found in SPHMMC. Method:-The study was conducted at SPHMMC, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. From April30 till May 30, 2018 G.C. An institution based cross sectional study design was used. A total of 146 participants were involved. A Questioner that was distributed to the nurses was used to collect the data needed for the research. Then a Descriptive analysis and associations was made using SPSS version 21. Result: -During the study the total number of nurses that participated where 146. The response rate was 97%. From these participants only 21(14.4%) had satisfactory knowledge. Factors affecting knowledge was the level of education which mostly was having degree on nursing with(AOR=18.6, 95%CI (3.8-90.2); p value=0.00) and then having diploma on nursing with (AOR=2.5, 95%CI (0.8-7.7); p value =0.1) the other factors that had associations where attending medical seminars with an (AOR=3.9, 95%CI (1.2-12.3); p value=0.01). And Having experienced medico legal events during their nursing courier had a relation with (AOR= 0.5, 95%CI(0.2-1.3) p value=0.17). Being educated medical ethics in nursing school also had a relation with (AOR=3.3,95%CI(0.7-14)p value of (0.1)).131(89.7%) of the participants had qualified for having satisfactory attitude while 15(10.3 %) had unsatisfactory attitude. Factors that affected attitude where Having attended medical seminars with (AOR=0.2 95% CI(0.07 1.0);p value=0.06). Being an orthodox religion follower with an (AOR=0.3, 95% CI(0.08-1.1); pvalue= 0.08). (A total of 137(93.8%) had proper ethical practice while 9(6.2%) had unsatisfactory ethical practice. There is a relation between practice and religion with (AOR=6.5 CI95%(1.4-28.9) and p value of 0.02). With no other variables showing any significant association. Recommendations and conclusion:- Most of the participants have poor knowledge on nursing ethics and law. Their attitude towards medical ethics was a better one when compared to their knowledge. And their practice was better than both knowledge and attitude. There is a work needed by the hospital to provide seminars to the nurses since it has shown to be helpful to have a better knowledge and attitude. And also find a way to increase the knowledge of nurses. Making shure the nurses have been educated medical ethics in nursing school will be helpful for a better outcome.