Attitudes and Behaviors of Intensive Care Nurses Towards End-of-Life Care and Death in Turkey

Background End-of-life care is administered to individuals in the terminal stages of their life, typically when their health is steadily declining. This form of care is integral to palliative care, encompassing the alleviation of physical symptoms; the delivery of emotional, social, and spiritual assistance; and the honoring of the preferences of both patients and their families. Aim This research aimed to explore the attitudes and behaviors of intensive care nurses regarding end-of-life care and the experience of death. Design This study employed a descriptive and correlational research design. The participant pool comprised 306 nurses actively engaged in the intensive care units of a hospital during the period from June to December 2022. Methods Data were gathered through the utilization of 3 instruments: “Individual Characteristics Form,” “The Scale of the Attitudes and Behaviors of Intensive Care Unit Nurses Intended for End-of-Life Care,” and the “Death Attitude Profile-Revised.” Results The results indicated that the attitudes and behaviors of nurses concerning end-of-life care and death were, on average, at a moderate level. Married nurses, those with postgraduate education, individuals working in the intensive care unit, those with 11 or more years of experience, and those who perceived their knowledge about end-of-life issues as adequate demonstrated more favorable attitudes and behaviors towards end-of-life care compared to other groups. Conclusions The study revealed that nurses with postgraduate education and those employed in the intensive care unit exhibited more favorable attitudes towards death. To enhance these attitudes and provide necessary support, it is advisable to implement supportive interventions and organize in-service training programs.