Status and correlates of attitudes towards end-of-life care among nursing students

Wejdan Othman Younis; Hamza Alduraidi; Ruqayya Sayyed.  Zeilani; Ayman Mohammad  Hamdan-Mansoor

doi:10.18502/npt.v9i2.8898

Wejdan Othman Younis Department of Clinical Nursing, School of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Hamza Alduraidi Department of Community Health Nursing, School of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Ruqayya Sayyed. Zeilani Department of Clinical Nursing, School of Nursing, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Ayman Mohammad Hamdan-Mansoor Department of Mental Health Nursing, School of Nursing, the University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/npt.v9i2.8898

Keywords: end-of-life; palliative care; attitude; knowledge; nursing students

Abstract

Background & Aim: Palliative nursing is based on the ability of nursing students to use their accumulated experiences and knowledge; however, basic nursing education does not provide adequate knowledge and skills regarding palliative and end-of-life care. This study aimed to examine the relationship between knowledge of end-of-life care and attitudes toward dying people among nursing students.

Methods & Materials: Cross-sectional, descriptive-correlational design was used in this study. A total of 708 nursing students were recruited conveniently from nursing students in 11 nursing programs. Data was collected using an online self-administered questionnaire in relation to knowledge and attitudes regarding palliative care using the palliative care quiz for nursing and Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale Form B (FATCOD-B).

Results: Nursing students have a satisfactory level of knowledge about palliative care with a mean of 61.0% and 50% of them scoring 83% correct answers. Moreover, students also have a moderate to high mean score (102.7, SD= 11.2) on attitudes towards caring for dying patients, indicating positive attitudes. Positive correlation found between communication and family as caregiver subscales of attitudes with knowledge total score (r= .08, r= .20, p< .05; respectively). The significant difference was found in attitudes related to gender, type of university, and whether receiving training or education about palliative care at school (p< .05).

Conclusion: Attitudes of nursing students and improving the level of knowledge regarding end of life care should be a priority to nurse educators, and nursing schools need to integrate palliative and end-of-life care into nursing curricula across all levels.