Attitude Toward Death and Associated Factors Among Nurses And Physicians: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Caring for terminally ill patients is a complicated task that challenges nurses and physicians with the psychological concerns and associated with a high level of physical and psychological discomfort among family, patients, and health care professionals. Aim: the aim of this study was to assess nurses’ and physicians’ attitudes towards death and end-of-life care, as well as to examine the correlations between nurses’ and physicians’ attitudes toward caring for dying patients and theirdemographic characteristics. Method: A total of 200 oncology nurses and physicians were recruited using a non-probability convenience sample from Jordanian specialized oncology hospital. All participants were invited to complete the questionnaire, which consisted of the demographic data sheet and Frommelt’s Attitude toward Care of the Dying -B scale. Result: The majority of nurses and physicians have a positive attitude toward death (FATCOD=106.31). Furthermore, there are statistically significant associations between nurses’ and physicians’ gender, previous experience with terminally ill patients, years of working experience, previous education on death and dying, previous experience with loss, religious beliefs and attitude toward end-of-life care and death. Conclusion: End-of-life Care can provoke a wide range of inconvenient attitudes and feelings, which have a significant impact on the end-of-life care. Based on the study finding, more positive attitudes toward death were found among physicians and nurses with longer clinical experience in caring for terminally ill patients. Furthermore, death education and religious beliefs significantly influence the death attitude of nurses and physicians.