Ethical Decision Making Capacity Of Healthcare Professionals During Disaster Triage : Example Of Izmir Province

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine whether the qualities healthcare professionals in Izmir related to disaster triage were adequate and whether these qualities influence their capacity to make ethical decisions.

Material-Methods: The researcher used a questionnaire form prepared with binding vignette method for data collection. The survey was completed by 215 healthcare professional working in Emergency-Medical Stations, National Medical Rescue Teams and Search-Rescue-Health Teams in Izmir. Through this method, their ability to carry disaster triage and make ethical desicions in conflictual situations is measured in relation to different variables.

Results: According to results, it was determined that 51.2% of the participants had inadequate knowledge level of ethical principles of disaster triage. their knowledge level of ethical principles of disaster triage and allocation of scarce resources increased, their tendency to make ethical decisions also increased (p=0,00). Also, They stayed in ethical dilemmas that perform cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, manage limited resources and make decisions to die.

Conclusion: So results of this study suggest that more training on disaster triage should be provided on the areas of the pre-impact phase of disaster. In addition, ethical dimension of disaster triage should be included in the syllabi of the ethics classes in the vocational training for healthcare professionals. Drill, simulations, and board exercises can be used to improve ethical decision making abilities of healthcare professionals. Disaster scenarios where ethical dilemmas are faced should be prepared for such applied training programs. 

Keywords

• Disaster Triage,Medical Ethics,Ethical Principles of Disaster Triage,Ethical Decision-Making

Sağlık Profesyonellerinin Afet Triajında Etik Karar Verebilme Durumları: İzmir İli Örneği

Abstract

Amaç: Bu araştırmanın amacı İzmir’deki sağlık profesyonellerinin afet triajına ilişkin etik bilgi düzeylerinin yeterli olup olmadığı ve bunun etik karar verme eğilimlerine etkisini belirlemektir.

Materyal-Metod: Veri toplama aracı olarak bağlayıcı vignette yöntemi ile hazırlanmış olan anket formu kullanılmıştır. Hazırlanan anket formları çalışmanın yapıldığı ildeki 112 Acil Sağlık İstasyonları çalışanları, UMKE ekibi ve AKS-110 ekibinden toplam 215 sağlık profesyoneline uygulanmıştır. Böylelikle sağlık profesyonellerinin afet triajı yapabilme yeterlilikleri ve ikilem halinde etik karar verebilme düzeylerini değerlendirilmiş ve değişkenler ile arasındaki ilişkiler belirlenmiştir.

Bulgular: Araştırma sonucunda katılımcıların %51,2’sinin afet triajı etik bilgi düzeylerinin yetersiz olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Katılımcıların afet triajı etik bilgi düzeyi arttıkça etik karar verme eğilimlerinin de arttığı gözlemlenmiştir (p=0,00). Katılımcılar, afet triajında ölüm kararı verme, CPR uygulama ve kıt kaynakların paylaştırılması konusunda etik ikilemde kalmışlardır.

Sonuç: Öncelikli olarak afet öncesi hazırlık döneminde afet triajına yönelik eğitimlerin arttırılması ve sağlık profesyonellerinin mesleki eğitimlerinde almış oldukları etik derslerine afet triajının etik boyutunun da dahil edilmesi önerilmektedir. Sağlık profesyonellerinin etik düşünebilme ve etik karar verebilme yetenekleri yapılan tatbikatlar, simülasyonlar ve masa üstü egzersizlerle geliştirilmelidir. Hazırlanacak bu uygulamalı eğitimlerde etik ikilemin yaşanabileceği afet senaryoları yer almalıdır.

Keywords

• Afet Triajı,Medikal Etik,Afet Triajı Etik İlkeleri,Etik Karar Verme

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