Korean J Hosp Palliat Care.  2014 Mar;17(1):10-17. 10.14475/kjhpc.2014.17.1.10.

Study of Subjective View on the Meaning of Well-dying Held by Medical Practitioners and Nursing Students: Based on Q-Methodology

• Kim SY
• Hur SS
• Kim BH

• KMID: 1981029
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14475/kjhpc.2014.17.1.10

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to examine understanding of the meaning of well-dying and types of such views held by medical practitioners and nursing students.
METHODS
The Q-methodology was used to analyze the subjectivity of each item. The P-sample was made up of 22 medical practitioners or nursing students. The P-sample was instructed to rate 33 statements using a 7-point scale to obtain forced normal distribution. They were asked to make extra comments on the statements that were placed on both ends of the distribution curve. The PC-QUANL Program was used for the factor analysis of the collected data.
RESULTS
The participants had three types of meaning of well-dying. Total variance explained by these types was 57.97%" where type 1 was "reality-oriented", type 2 "relationship-oriented" and type 3 "obeying-the-nature".
CONCLUSION
The participants' subjective views on well-dying influences their medical practice on patients who are facing death. Therefore, medical practitioners should have profound insights concerning life and death. To that end, a training program is needed to help medical practitioners develop a proper view on well-dying by subjectivity type.

Keyword

Death; Terminal Care; Nurse practitioners; Nursing student

MeSH Terms

Education
Humans
Nurse Practitioners
Students, Nursing*
Terminal Care