Knowledge and attitudes about euthanasia among Peruvian medical interns

Abstract

Euthanasia is the deliberate act of ending a person’s life at the request of the patient or their family.
This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and associated factors regarding euthanasia among
medical interns at a Peruvian university (2023–2024). An analytical, cross-sectional study was conducted
with 103 participants. Frequencies, percentages, and prevalence ratios were calculated using Poisson
regression (95% CI, p<0.05). Of the participants, 55.3% were female, with a mean age of 24.9 years.
In total, 63.1% demonstrated a high level of knowledge about euthanasia, while 50.5% showed a negative
attitude toward this practice. No significant association was found between knowledge and attitude
(p>0.05); however, there was a significant association between bioethics knowledge and knowledge
level (p=0.00), and between having seen or read about euthanasia cases and knowledge level (p=0.00).