Table 3

Predictors of CP and how to facilitate CP among healthcare providers

FactorKey findingsHow to facilitate CP
Personal values and identity

  1. Personal challenges experienced in early life.

  2. Experience with injustice, desire to rectify injustice.

  3. Religious affiliation does not predictably impact participation.

  • Support engagement in self-reflection and reflective practice, particularly regarding early experiences with injustice.

Professional values and identity

  1. Views professional role as one of advocacies for patient’s wishes and values.

  2. Strong desire to provide compassionate and meaningful care.

  • Promote values clarification a part of professional practice and training.

  • Connect compassion to taboo practice.

Experience with death

  1. MAiD is viewed as a ‘good’ death because it expresses patient autonomy.

  2. “Bad” death is one where patients’ wishes are not honoured, or the family experiences trauma.

  • Provide opportunities for observation of the MAiD practice.

  • Providing space, resources and time for reflection and grieving following a death.

Organisational context

  1. Strong leadership support is essential to practise sustainability.

  2. Develop supportive structures to enable confidence in the safety and quality of the practice. Creating a team-based structure creates safety and security for those who choose to engage in the practice.

  • Create opportunities for peer support.

  • Engage leaders in articulating support for the practice.

  • Create sustainable structures and human resources.

  • CP, conscientious participation; MAiD, medical assistance in dying.