Impacts of Death Perception and Nursing Professionalism on Attitude Toward Terminal Care of Nursing Students

Objectives This research aimed to investigate the influence of nursing students' perceptions of death and professional attitudes on their attitudes towards end-of-life care. The primary objectives were to provide essential foundational data for improving end-of-life care practices and to identify strategies for enhancing nursing students' attitudes in this critical area. Methods Data were collected from a sample of 180 nursing students in the G region between September 2023 and October 2023. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 27.0 software, employing t-tests and ANOVA to explore differences in variables based on participants' general characteristics. Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient was utilized to examine relationships between variables. Moreover, multiple regression analysis was applied to assess how perceptions of death and nursing professionalism influenced attitudes towards end-of-life care. Results The study revealed variations in attitudes towards end-of-life care based on factors such as age (t=-2.570, p=.011), academic year (F=10.379, p<.001), clinical practice experience (t=3.771, p<.001), hospice ward practicum experience (t=2.108, p=.037), end-of-life education experience (t=2.251, p=.026), and interpersonal relationships (F=3.569, p=.031). After controlling for relevant characteristics, the research demonstrated that nursing students' perceptions of death and professional attitudes significantly influenced attitudes towards end-of-life care, explaining approximately 25% of the variance. Conclusions To enhance nursing students' attitudes towards end-of-life care, it is imperative to develop diverse programs aimed at promoting appropriate nursing professional attitudes and fostering positive attitudes towards death among nursing students.