Table 4.

Multivariable regression models of the usefulness of methods in solving ethical problems

Independent variables	Dependent variables
	Methods used in solving ethical problem a
	Discussion and deliberation	Use of outside experts	Written instructions and ethical principles	Acts and degrees	Work arrangements
	beta (SE)	beta (SE)	beta (SE)	beta (SE)	beta (SE)
Participating in education concerning ethics in last 2 years
Yes	0.12 (0.05)	–	–	–	–
No b	0	–	–	–	–
p c	0.0088	–	–	–	–
Age	0.007 (0.003)	–	0.008 (0.004)	0.01 (0.004)	0.01 (0.004)
p c	0.0167	–	0.0430	0.0117	0.0053
Sum score of work-related background factors	0.09 (0.04)	0.16 (0.07)	–	–	–
p c	0.0410	0.0187	–	–	–
Frequency of ethical problems related to patients d	–	–	–	–	−0.15 (0.07)
p c	–	–	–	–	0.0450
Frequency of ethical problems related to nursing staff4)	0.14 (0.05)	–	–	0.35 (0.08)	0.24 (0.09)
p c	0.0131	–	–	<.0001	0.0085
Frequency of ethical problems related to organisation d	–	–	–	–	−0.14 (0.06)
p c	–	–	–	–	0.0298
Difficulty of ethical problems related to organisation e	–	–	–	0.10 (0.05)	0.13 (0.04)
p c	–	–	–	0.0490	0.0029
Frequency of ethical problems related to other professional groups d	–	–	–	–	0.24 (0.08)
p c	–	–	–	–	0.0027
Difficulty of ethical problems related to other professional groups e	0.09 (0.03)	–	–	–
pc	0.0040	–	–	–
Frequency of ethical problems related NM her/himself d	−0.15 (0.04)	–	−0.18 (0.06)	−0.23 (0.07)	− 0.14 (0.06)
p c	0.0010	–	0.0022	0.0006	0.0234
100 x R2 (%)	19.1	2.6	7.2	12.9	13.9
p f	<.0001	0.0187	0.0005	<.0001	<.0001

Empty cell (−): No significant association.

SE Standard error.

^ausefulness 1 = useless, 4 = very useful

^breference category

^csignificance of the independent variable

^dfrequency 1 = never, 5 = daily

^edifficulty, 1 = very easy, 5 = very difficult

^fsignificance of the multivariate regression model