Publication of First Project Results
Our research project’s initial results are now openly accessible in scientific journals.
The first article – a scoping review on the roles and responsibilities of nurses in suicide prevention (Nurses’ roles and responsibilities in suicide prevention: a scoping review) – was published in BMC Nursing.
The second article – a systematic review on nurses’ moral distress in the context of medical assistance in dying (Nurses’ Experience of Moral Distress in the Context of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD): A Systematic Review) – has been published in Ethik in der Medizin.
Poster Presentation at the Annual Conference of the Academy for Ethics in Medicine
From October 9–11, the Annual Conference of the Academy for Ethics in Medicine [Akademie für Ethik in der Medizin] took place in Munich. Project leader Annette Riedel, as well as Karen Klotz and Pia Madeleine Haug, attended the conference.
As part of the poster session, Karen Klotz presented the poster Exploration of Nursing Professionals’ Experiences in the Context of Requests for Assisted Suicide by Care-Dependent Older Adults and Suicide Prevention Using Focus Groups [„Exploration des pflegeprofessionellen Erlebens im Kontext von Anfragen nach Suizidassistenz pflegebedürftiger älterer Menschen und Suizidprävention mittels Fokusgruppen“], providing insights into the initial findings from the focus groups.
Changes in the Attention Project Team
As of August 1, 2025, there have been personnel changes in the Attention project team. Stephanie Feinauer has concluded her work as a research associate on the project. We sincerely thank her for her commitment and wish her all the best for the future.
At the same time, we are pleased to welcome Eva-Maria Stratmann and Erik Jacob as new research associates in the team. Both have already supported the project for some time as student research assistants and bring valuable experience and expertise to their new roles.
Scientific Poster
A scientific poster was developed to provide a clear visual representation of our research project. It offers a concise overview of the different phases of the research process and presents the project’s main content and objectives.
You can download the poster here. Please note: The poster is currently available in German only
2nd Steering Committee Meeting
On June 24, 2025, the second meeting of the steering committee took place in person at the campus of Esslingen University of Applied Sciences. In a pleasant atmosphere with coffee and cake, initial findings from the focus groups were presented and discussed collaboratively. These insights and discussions will play a key role in the development of the practice and ethics guidelines.
In addition, the next project steps were prepared—particularly the elaboration of the central elements of the guidelines and their subsequent validation through a Delphi survey.
Presentation of First Project Results at transmortale XIV
On March 22, 2025, Karen Klotz presented findings from a systematic review on Nurses experience of moral distress in the context of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). The presentation took place as part of the transmortale XIVconference at the Museum of Sepulkralkultur in Kassel. The systematic review provides the theoretical foundation for the research project.
Presentation of the Participation Concept at Scientific Workdays
On March 14, 2025, Pia Madeleine Haug presented the participation concept of the research project as a scientific poster during the 11th Scientific Workdays of the German Society for Palliative Medicine at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen.
Start of Focus Groups
In February 2025, the first scientific data collections of the research project began with the implementation of focus groups. These focus groups investigate the professional and ethical challenges faced by nurses in residential and home-based long-term care—particularly in handling requests for assisted suicide by older adults and in suicide prevention. The goal is to gain an in-depth understanding of the complex demands encountered in practice.
Further focus groups with nurses from the cooperating organizations will be conducted until summer 2025, in order to capture diverse perspectives and experiences.
First Meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board
In January 2025, the scientific advisory board of the research project held its inaugural meeting. The board is composed of renowned researchers as well as experts from practice, bringing together perspectives from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Represented disciplines include social sciences, nursing and health sciences, psychology, psychotherapy, and ethics. The advisory board provides professional guidance and supports the project with its expertise. Through this close scientific consultation, it makes a significant contribution to ensuring the quality and further development of the Attention project.
Registration of the Research Project in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS)
On January 6, 2025, the Attention research project was registered in the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS)The planned central empirical data collections of the three-year project are publicly accessible there. Insights and results will be continuously documented throughout the course of the project.
Ethical Clearance and Start of the Pilot Study
With the ethical clearance for the research project granted by the Ethics Committee of the German Society of Nursing Science on December 4, 2024, the pilot testing of a questionnaire intended for use in the project could begin.
Official Kick-Off Event and 1st Steering Committee Meeting
On November 13, 2024, the official kick-off event of the Attention research project took place in Stuttgart, attended by interested staff from the cooperating organizations. Immediately afterwards, the steering committee held its first meeting. This group consists of representatives from the six cooperating organizations, who play a key role in planning the data collections and developing the practice and ethics guidelines. The focus of this first meeting was to deepen the project’s objectives and to collaboratively develop and discuss the initial steps for the practical implementation of the project.
Kick-Off Event with Representatives of the Cooperating Organizations
On September 18, 2024, the kick-off event with representatives of our cooperating organizations took place. The aim of this event was to lay the foundation for close and goal-oriented collaboration in the Attention research project. During the event, the main focus areas and processes for the initial project phases were coordinated collaboratively.
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