Attitudes Toward and Experience With Assisted-Death Services and Psychological Implications for Health Practitioners: A Narrative Systematic Review

Citation

Wibisono S, Minto K, Lizzio-Wilson M, Thomas EF, Crane M, Molenberghs P, Kho M, Amiot CE, Decety J, Breen LJ, Noonan K, Forbat L & Louis W (2022) Attitudes Toward and Experience With Assisted-Death Services and Psychological Implications for Health Practitioners: A Narrative Systematic Review. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228221138997

Abstract
A narrative systematic review was conducted to review studies that examine mental health implications of involvement in assisted-death services among health practitioners. Qualitative and quantitative studies were included to understand health practitioners’ attitudes and experiences with assisted dying services, as well as to identify the mental health consequences. We identified 18 articles from 1591 articles drawn from seven major scientific databases (i.e., PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus). Two raters independently evaluated the exclusion and inclusion decisions of the articles and examined methodological flaws in the selected articles. We found that engagement in assisted death services were not reliably associated with mental health outcomes such as anxiety and moral distress. Both positive and negative outcomes were reported, and psychological outcomes for practitioners were shown to vary based on factors including social support for health practitioners’ views; their perceived capacity to care for the patients; and legislation.

Keywords
Life-span and Life-course Studies; Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine; Health (social science)

Notes
Output Status: Forthcoming/Available Online

Journal
OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying

People

Professor Liz Forbat

Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences