Intensive Care Residents’ Views Regarding Ethical Issues and Practices

Abstract

Background:This study sought to understand the ethical issues encountered by medical residents during their residencies, evaluate the solutions proffered by them, and present their suggestions. Material/Methods:A survey consisting of 32 questions, including demographic information, was developed and distributed to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) residents from December 2020 to January 2021. A total of 53 completed questionnaires were submitted to the researchers. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 26.0. Results:Of the participating residents who returned completed forms, 50.9% were male and 49.1% were female, with an overall mean age of 30.5±4.4 years. Most residents' views on ethical issues concerned themselves, the clinic, and patients/patient relatives. Responses showed a number of commonalities with the views of ICU physicians in other countries. Suggestions for resolving ethical issues solutions included instruction in medical ethics for all staff, increasing and strengthening pathways of communication both inside and outside of the clinics, regular inventory of medical supplies and assessment of equipment to prevent a shortage of resources, and the establishment of a hospital ethics committee. Conclusions:As numerous and varied ethical issues were encountered in the participating ICUs, we propose the following: preparation of an ICU-specific guide for resolving ethical problems, clarification of rules based on legal regulations, determining a hierarchy of responsibilities, and ethics courses for all ICU staff. In addition, hospital managers should support ICU services from both a legal and ethical standpoint.

Ethical and Professional Issues Encountered by Fourth-Year Medical Students during a Critical Care Clerkship before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Although ethical issues are known to be common in the intensive care unit (ICU), 1 little is known about the extent of their incorporation into medical education and their impact on the professional development of students rotating through the ICU. Surveys of residents rotating through ICUs suggest that house staff frequently encounter ethical issues during their ICU rotations 2 ; however, explicit incorporation of the ethical issues encountered in the ICU into undergraduate medical education remains rare in spite of their perceived relevance 3 . Less still is known about how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have changed student perceptions of ethical issues encountered in critical care.…”