Research & Innovation
Publications
Development of a drama-based method for nurses and nursing students facing ethical dilemmas related to assisted suicide: a formative study
PMU Authors
Andrea Egger-Rainer, Maria Magdalena Schreier, Clemens Brandl, Cornelia Brandstötter-Gugg, Sarah Bublitz, Stefan Lorenzl, Brigitte Mayr-Pirker, Christiane Weck, Piret Paal
All Authors
Andrea Egger-Rainer, Maria Magdalena Schreier, Fulya Sahinoglu, Clemens Brandl, Cornelia Brandstötter-Gugg, Sarah Bublitz, Stefan Lorenzl, Brigitte Mayr-Pirker, Christiane Weck, Piret Paal
Journal association
Teaching and Learning in Nursing
Abstract
Background: The legalization of assisted dying poses ethical challenges to nurses, who are often insufficiently prepared. Education should focus on knowledge and self-reflection in dealing with this topic. Drama-based methods, such as readers' theater, aid in exploring complex issues. Innovation: We developed a drama-based workshop for nurses on assisted suicide, derived from the concept of ethical deliberation. The workshop lasts 3 hours and starts by imparting knowledge about aid in dying. Six participants perform a readers' theater, followed by discussing feelings and views. Finally, participants reflect on their perception of ethical deliberation quality. Implications: The quality of ethical deliberation was assessed using a self-developed questionnaire. Collaborative diversity deepened understanding for 84% of the participants, fostering empathy and reflection for 92%. Ninety-six percent felt appreciated, but some cited a lack of time. Approximately 75% of the participants experienced a deepening of their professional understanding. Conclusions: DRAS-P is a suitable method for preparing nurses for the care related to assisted suicide. Legal information provides essential knowledge. Future considerations include adding discussions in small subgroups and extending the workshop length. (c) 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Organization for Associate Degree Nursing. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)