Evaluation of bioethical aspects in health professionals

Objective. To evaluate training in bioethics, as well as knowledge and perceptions of bioethical issues, among health professionals. Method. A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in 2005 by means of a validated questionnaire. The study population consisted of the health team working in the cardiology area in the Marques de Valdecilla University Hospital. Results. There were 186 health professionals, and 117 questionnaires were returned, representing 63.5% of the study population: 58 nurses (49.5%), 23 physicians (19.6%), and 34 nursing auxiliaries. More than half (64.6%) had no training in bioethics. The health professionals with the most training in bioethics were those with more than 20 years' experience (p = 0.019). Less than half (45.7%) knew of the existence (p = 0.004) or the content (p = 0.03) of law 41/2002. A total of 12.8% believed that users knew their rights. Health professionals with no bioethics training were those most likely to believe that users' confidentiality (p = 0.002) and privacy (p = 0.039) were always or usually respected. More than one third (37.8%) reported facing bioethical problems in their professional activity. Conclusion. The members of the health team have insufficient knowledge of bioethics parallel to low levels of training in this discipline and perceive insufficient respect for users' basic rights. Training in bioethics should be increased, and information pathways should be established in institutions to allow continual adaptation to ethical and legal requirements.