The Evaluation of Proffesional Ethics Expression at City X Hospital

Aim of the Study. To evaluate the expression of professional ethics at city X hospital. Study Objectives. To evaluate professional ethics at city X hospital subject to socio-demographic characteristics, to evaluate the correlation between professional ethics and work-related behavior, to evaluate the correlation between professional ethics and work values. Study Methods. An anonymous questionnaire-based survey among nurses was performed in February, 2011. Data of survey has been processed using the SPSS version 15.0 statistical analysis program. Hypothesis for assessing equality of medians of two independent samples was tested using Mann-Whitney criterion and for more than one independent sample Kruscal-Wallis criterion was applied. Wilcoxon criterion was applied for two paired sample comparison and Friedman criterion was used to test more than two paired samples. Statistically significant differences were considered when p value was less than 0,05. Chi square and z-score criterion was used to test the hypothesis of the independence of two criteria. 95% confidence intervals with calculated margins or error have been used to compare the values of particular variables. Results. Statistically significantly more often all respondents indicated moral and ethical activity as the most important component of work, as a value. Survey has also disclosed the correlation among age groups, where statistically significantly more often the respondents of the youngest age group considered delay of gratification as the non-important component of work. Statistically significantly more often respondents with lower income were not satisfied with the delay of gratification. Study data also showed that statistically significantly more often work has been considered as significant in their life by respondents with greater work-related experience. Moreover, these respondents statistically significantly more often agreed with delay of gratification. Hard work was statistically significantly more often favored by women who are not living within a family. Evaluation of the correlation between professional ethics and work-related behavior has disclosed that respondents of higher moral level were statistically significantly more self-confident and self-confidence was considered as a method of achieving ones goals and success. Statistically significantly more often leisure, timely payment of bonus and rewards were considered as significant work component by respondents of lower moral level. The importance of self-dependence was statistically significantly more important for these respondents. They have also favored for having more leisure time which was considered as having particular relationship with the growth of the meaning of life. It has been assessed that credit system was statistically significantly more often considered as a favorable method of purchase by respondents of lower moral level. Analysis of correlation between professional ethics and work values revealed that effective work time management was statistically significantly less important for employees of lower moral level, while respondents of high moral level aimed to stay busy at work and to not waste time. Conclusions. Statistically significant difference has been found between the factors of professional ethics and such socio-demographic characteristics as age, income, work experience and family status of the respondents. Respondents of high moral level were more statistically significantly self-confident and felt less independent from others within the workplace, whereas respondents of low moral level considered the delay of gratification and leisure as significant components of work. Moreover, respondents of low moral level have statistically significantly less favored the effective time management. Key Words. Professional ethics, work ethics, work values, work related behavior