NURSES' STUDENTS' ATTITUDES TOWARD DEATH AND CARING FOR DYING CANCER PATIENTS DURING THEIR PLACEMENT

• Main Author: Loai Abu Sharour
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Associazione Italiana Giovani Medici 2017-12-01
• Series: Euromediterranean Biomedical Journal
• Subjects: Attitudes; Cancer; Dying Patients; Nursing
• Online Access: http://www.embj.org/joomla335/index.php?option=com_k2&view=itemlist&layout=category&task=category&id=15&Itemid=17

Caring of cancer patients requires special skills and knowledge that facilitates the professionals’ care during the patients' illness and palliative phases. This study was conducted to explore the nursing students' attitudes toward death and caring for dying cancer patients during their Placement. A descriptive study was conducted using the Formmelt Attitude toward Care of the Dying (FATCOD) scale and Death Attitude Profile-Revised (DAP-R) scale. Nursing students from AL-Zaytoonah University of Jordan. A sample of one hundred nursing students was recruited. The current study showed statistically significant difference among age group in relation to total score of death scale (p-value: 0.000) and fear of death, neutral acceptance, approach acceptance, and escape- acceptance subscales. The results indicated that younger students have more negative thoughts, attitudes, and emotions toward caring for dying cancer patients. In addition the results indicated that students with higher academic levels have a more positive attitude and are more eligible to provide nursing care for dying cancer patients as compared to students with less experience. In addition, the results showed that students with less experience had a greater fear of death than students with a higher academic level. According to the study results, Nurses' attitudes toward caring for dying and dead cancer patients can be considered an important predictor of quality of life among cancer patients.