Korean J Hosp Palliat Care.  2013 Mar;16(1):1-9. 10.14475/kjhpc.2013.16.1.001.

Nursing Students' Awareness of Biomedical Ethics and Attitudes toward Death of Terminal Patients

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Nursing, Hyechon University, Daejeon, Korea.
  • 2College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3College of Nursing, Jeju National University, Jeju, Korea. ohcho@jejunu.ac.kr

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to investigate nursing students' awareness of biomedical ethics and attitudes toward death of terminal patients.
METHODS
A structured questionnaire was developed to examine nursing students' biomedical ethics. Their attitudes toward terminal patients' death were measured by using the Collett-Lester Fear of Death Scale. Surveys were conducted with 660 nursing students enrolled at a three-year college located in Daejeon, Korea. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Wilcoxon rank sum test and Kruskall Waills test.
RESULTS
Students who have experienced biomedical ethics conflicts, agreed to prohibition of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and have no religion exhibited more negative attitudes toward death compared to students without the above characteristics. Of the participants, 81.2% answered that life sustaining treatment for terminal patients should be discontinued and 76.4% replied that CPR on terminal patients should be prohibited. The majority of the correspondents stated that the two measures above are necessary "for patients' peaceful and dignified death".
CONCLUSION
Study results indicate the need to establish a firm biomedical ethics value to help nursing students form a positive attitude toward death. It also seems necessary to offer students related training before going into clinical practice, if possible. The training program should be developed by considering students' religion, school year, experience with biomedical ethics conflicts and opinion about CPR on terminal patients. The program should also include an opportunity for students to experience terminal patient care in advance via simulation practice on standardized patients.

Keyword

Nursing students; Attitude to death; Bioethics

MeSH Terms

Attitude to Death
Bioethics
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Humans
Korea
Patient Care
Students, Nursing
Surveys and Questionnaires
Full Text Links
  • KJHPC
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr