Attitudes of Dental and Medical Students toward Death and Dying

Abstract

This study explored the attitudes of dental students toward death and dying and compared them with attitudes held by medical students. The population included regularly enrolled students pursuing the M.D., or D.D.S., degree at the L.S.U. Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. Patterns which emerged from the data analysis suggested that attitude toward death is a factor influencing choice between dental school and medical school would, at best, be latent. Additionally, there is an association between class membership which suggests that attitudes of dental and medical students toward death may be differentially affected by their professional experiences.