{"title":"Exploring attitudes toward euthanasia in Iranian healthcare providers: a systematic review of influencing factors.","authors":"Nazanin Fard Moghadam, Azin Hassani, Loghman Khaninezhad","doi":"10.1186/s13010-025-00186-y","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Euthanasia is a polarizing topic in healthcare, particularly in Iran, where Islamic principles emphasizing the sanctity of life shape ethical perspectives. Understanding the attitudes of Iranian healthcare providers toward euthanasia and the factors influencing these views is critical, given the cultural and religious context. The primary objective of this study was to systematically identify and synthesize the key factors influencing healthcare providers' attitudes toward euthanasia in Iran.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Magiran, and SID databases up to March 10, 2025. Inclusion criteria encompassed observational studies reporting quantitative data on euthanasia attitudes among Iranian healthcare providers. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Due to heterogeneity in study designs and measurement tools, a narrative synthesis was performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 595 identified records, 36 studies involving 7,790 participants met inclusion criteria. Attitudes toward euthanasia were predominantly cautious or negative, with stronger opposition among older providers, females, and those with deep religious beliefs. Younger age, male gender, clinical experience, and exposure to terminal patients correlated with more positive attitudes. Religious and cultural factors, particularly Islamic teachings, were significant barriers to acceptance, while urban settings and higher education were linked to neutral or mixed views.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Iranian healthcare providers' attitudes toward euthanasia reflect a complex interplay of religious, cultural, and professional influences. These findings underscore the need for enhanced palliative care and ethical training in Iran's healthcare system to address end-of-life dilemmas while respecting cultural boundaries.</p><p><strong>Clinical trial number: </strong>Not applicable.</p>","PeriodicalId":56062,"journal":{"name":"Philosophy Ethics and Humanities in Medicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"21"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12285167/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Philosophy Ethics and Humanities in Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13010-025-00186-y","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"哲学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"ETHICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
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Abstract
Background: Euthanasia is a polarizing topic in healthcare, particularly in Iran, where Islamic principles emphasizing the sanctity of life shape ethical perspectives. Understanding the attitudes of Iranian healthcare providers toward euthanasia and the factors influencing these views is critical, given the cultural and religious context. The primary objective of this study was to systematically identify and synthesize the key factors influencing healthcare providers' attitudes toward euthanasia in Iran.
Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Magiran, and SID databases up to March 10, 2025. Inclusion criteria encompassed observational studies reporting quantitative data on euthanasia attitudes among Iranian healthcare providers. Two reviewers independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the Joanna Briggs Institute tools. Due to heterogeneity in study designs and measurement tools, a narrative synthesis was performed.
Results: Of 595 identified records, 36 studies involving 7,790 participants met inclusion criteria. Attitudes toward euthanasia were predominantly cautious or negative, with stronger opposition among older providers, females, and those with deep religious beliefs. Younger age, male gender, clinical experience, and exposure to terminal patients correlated with more positive attitudes. Religious and cultural factors, particularly Islamic teachings, were significant barriers to acceptance, while urban settings and higher education were linked to neutral or mixed views.
Conclusion: Iranian healthcare providers' attitudes toward euthanasia reflect a complex interplay of religious, cultural, and professional influences. These findings underscore the need for enhanced palliative care and ethical training in Iran's healthcare system to address end-of-life dilemmas while respecting cultural boundaries.
背景：安乐死在医疗保健中是一个两极分化的话题，特别是在伊朗，伊斯兰原则强调生命的神圣性塑造伦理观点。鉴于伊朗的文化和宗教背景，了解伊朗医疗保健提供者对安乐死的态度以及影响这些观点的因素至关重要。本研究的主要目的是系统地识别和综合影响伊朗医疗保健提供者对安乐死态度的关键因素。方法：遵循PRISMA指南，系统检索PubMed， Scopus, Web of Science， Magiran和SID数据库，截止2025年3月10日。纳入标准包括报告伊朗医疗保健提供者对安乐死态度定量数据的观察性研究。两位审稿人独立筛选研究，提取数据，并使用乔安娜布里格斯研究所的工具评估偏倚风险。由于研究设计和测量工具的异质性，我们进行了叙事综合。结果：在595份确定的记录中，36项研究涉及7790名参与者符合纳入标准。对安乐死的态度主要是谨慎或消极的，年龄较大的提供者、女性和有深刻宗教信仰的人反对得更强烈。年龄、男性、临床经验、接触绝症患者与积极态度相关。宗教和文化因素，特别是伊斯兰教义，是接受的重大障碍，而城市环境和高等教育则与中立或混合的观点有关。结论：伊朗医疗保健提供者对安乐死的态度反映了宗教、文化和专业影响的复杂相互作用。这些发现强调了在伊朗医疗保健系统中加强姑息治疗和伦理培训的必要性，以在尊重文化界限的同时解决临终困境。临床试验号：不适用。
期刊介绍：
Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine considers articles on the philosophy of medicine and biology, and on ethical aspects of clinical practice and research.
Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine is an open access, peer-reviewed online journal that encompasses all aspects of the philosophy of medicine and biology, and the ethical aspects of clinical practice and research. It also considers papers at the intersection of medicine and humanities, including the history of medicine, that are relevant to contemporary philosophy of medicine and bioethics.
Philosophy, Ethics, and Humanities in Medicine is the official publication of the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University Medical Center.
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