Hofling et al (1966)

Question 1

Hofling et al (1966) - aims?

Answer 1

carry out a study of obedience in a real-life setting by seeing whether nurses in a hospital will follow orders given by a doctor even if this breaks regulations

Question 2

Hofling et al (1966) - participants?

Answer 2

control group - 21 student nurses and 12 graduate nurses from one hospital completed questionnaire asking what they would do when faced with situation
experimental group - 22 nurses from other hospitals who weren’t aware of the study

Question 3

Hofling et al (1966) - method?

Answer 3

nurses alone on night shift and receive call from unknown doctor asking them to give drug called astroten to patient
asked to give 20mg even though max daily dose on box was 10mg, drug not authorised for ward they were on and they shouldn’t have followed orders given over phone
phone call ended when nurses complied, refused, referred them to another person, became upset, couldn’t find medication or call took over 10 mins
study stopped by observer when nurse had medication and was approaching patient, they went to contact another professional or it had been more than 10 mins since call

Question 4

Hofling et al (1966) - results?

Answer 4

control group - 10 graduate nurses and all students said they wouldn’t give drug
experimental group - 21 out of 22 nurses went to administer drug but admitted they knew they shouldn’t have obeyed doctor

Question 5

Hofling et al (1966) - conclusions?

Answer 5

nurses will break hospital rules when told by doctor even if it endangers patient
people generally unwilling to question with authority even if they have reason to and will do as they are told even if that is wrong