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http://dx.doi.org/10.14475/kjhpc.2013.16.1.001

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

Kim, Young-Hee (Department of Nursing, Hyechon University)
Yoo, Yang-Sook (College of Nursing, The Catholic University of Korea)
Cho, Ok-Hee (College of Nursing, Jeju National University)
Publication Information
Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care / v.16, no.1, 2013 , pp. 1-9 More about this Journal
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.
Keywords
Nursing students; Attitude to death; Bioethics;
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