THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIA ON ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN PREHOSPITAL RESUSCITATION PRACTICES.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic process on ethical dilemmas experienced in prehospital resuscitation practices. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted on 695 emergency medical services employees. A "questionnaire form" consisting of 20 questions developed by the researchers in line with the literature was used as a data collection tool. RESULTS: In the pandemic period, ethical dilemmas in deciding to perform CPR on suspected or identified COVID-19 patients have increased in 52.5% of the participants, whereas ethical dilemmas in deciding to terminate CPR have increased in 41.3%. Moreover, a statistically significant difference was found between the increasing status of the ethical dilemmas of the participants in making the decision to start CPR in EMS and terminate CPR in the COVID-19 pandemic process and the status of having a diagnosis of COVID-19, the state of having complete personal protective equipment during CPR, and the state of applying advanced airway techniques on suspected or identified COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although the COVID-19 pandemic process has increased the ethical dilemmas of emergency medical services employees in relation to CPR application, such dilemmas do not affect their decision to start or end CPR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]