Development Strategies in Medical Education

Introduction: With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world has faced new and different challenges. This pandemic has caused medical staff to face a wide range of ethical issues. One of the important challenges is the non-resuscitation order during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the attitudes of nurses, specialists, and medical students regarding the no-resuscitation order during the COVID-19 pandemic at Jahrom University of Medical Sciences.
Methods: This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted on 288 nurses, physicians, and medical students (Extern and Intern) at Jahrom University of Medical Sciences in 2023. The data collection tool in this study included two demographic information questionnaires and a questionnaire on attitudes towards no-resuscitation. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 21 software and descriptive statistics and inferential statistical tests at a significance level of P<0.05.
Results: The average score of the attitude of nurses, specialists and medical students regarding the do-not-resuscitate order during the Covid-19 pandemic was 3.52±0.39. Which is above the average level. Among the items of the questionnaire, the items "I want to have a better understanding of the legal consequences of DNR" and "I want to know more about advanced DNR orders" and "I want to know more about patients' rights in DNR" were the most important and the items were the least important. There is a relationship between the average score of the attitude of nurses, specialists and medical students regarding the do-not-resuscitate order with the level of education, occupation and employment status.
Conclusion: The results of the present study show that the nurses and doctors participating in the present study had a positive attitude towards do-not-resuscitate orders. This positive attitude was more pronounced in participants with a bachelor's degree, nurses and civil servants. This attitude is due to the attention to maintaining human dignity and the quality of life of patients, especially when continuing treatments leads to more suffering and pain. In addition, nurses and doctors emphasize the importance of legal consequences, advanced directives, and patients' rights regarding do-not-resuscitate orders, and consider it part of their ethical and humane principles.