Table 4 HCPs personal experiences with the conscience clause
1. Physicians n (%N) | 2. Nurses n (%N) | 3. Pharmacists n (%N) | p for groups differences | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Have you ever invoked the conscience clause? | ns | |||
Yes | 3 (3) | 9 (9) | 6 (6) | |
No | 97 (97) | 91 (91) | 94 (94) | |
If so, did you have any concerns about it? | ||||
Yes | 2 (66.7) | 6 (66.7) | 3 (50) | |
No | 1 (33.3) | 3 (33.3) | 3 (50) | |
Have you ever considered invoking the conscience clause? | 1 vs. 3 p < 0.01 | |||
Yes | 20 (20.6) | 13 (14.3) | 6 (6.4) | |
No | 77 (79.4) | 78 (85.7) | 88 (93.6) | |
Were you concerned about this? | ||||
Yes | 17 (85) | 11 (84.6) | 4 (66.7) | |
No | 3 (15) | 2 (15.4) | 2 (33.3) | |
If so, what were your concerns? | ||||
Losing job | 15 (78.9) | 11 (64.7) | 4 (57.1) | |
Potential difficulties in achieving promotion | 7 (36.8) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
Relationships with other employees | 13 (68.4) | 13 (76.5) | 2 (28.6) | |
Losing respect | 11 (57.9) | 2 (11.8) | 4 (57.1) | |
Other concerns | 2 (10.5) | 2 (11.8) | 1 (14.3) | |
Have you ever been in an emergency situation where it was necessary to perform a medical service that affronted your conscience? | ns | |||
Yes | 19 (19) | 15 (15) | 18 (18) | |
No | 81 (81) | 85 (85) | 82 (82) | |
If so, in what situation? | ||||
Participation in the termination of pregnancy | 5 (26.3) | 3 (20) | 0 (0) | |
Performing the termination of pregnancy | 5 (26.3) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
Participation in a blood transfusion procedure | 0 (0) | 2 (13.3) | 0 (0) | |
Carrying out the blood transfusion procedure | 0 (0) | 2 (13.3) | 0 (0) | |
Participation in biomedical experiments | 2 (10.5) | 2 (13.3) | 0 (0) | |
Carrying out biomedical experiments | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | |
Dispensing drugs | 7 (36.8) | 9 (60) | 18 (100) | |
Other | 5 (26.3) | 2 (13.3) | 0 (0) | |
Would you object to a pharmacist’s refusal to fill a prescription for contraceptives available in pharmacies? | 1 vs. 2 p < 0.01 2 vs. 3 p < 0.01 | |||
Yes | 81 (81) | 64 (64) | 77 (77) | |
No | 16 (16) | 23 (23) | 22 (22) | |
I have no opinion | 3 (3) | 13 (13) | 1 (1) | |
I would object to a refusal to fill the following contraceptives | 1 vs. 2 p < 0.01 1 vs. 3 p < 0.01 | |||
Hormonal contraceptives | 76 (100) | 51 (94.4) | 47 (95.9) | |
Mechanical methods of contraception, e.g. vaginal rings, condoms | 76 (100) | 49 (90.7) | 39 (79.6) | |
Chemical barrier methods, e.g. globules, foams, creams, spermicidal fluids | 76 (100) | 46 (85.2) | 43 (87.7) | |
Methods that prevent fertilisation, e.g. IUD | 76 (100) | 34 (63) | 35 (71.4) | |
Postcoital contraception (the “morning-after pill”) | 63 (82.9) | 24 (44.4) | 31 (63.3) | |