Work

Nursing students’ willingness to discuss hospice and palliative care with family and associated factors: A cross-sectional study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: In the cultural context of China, it holds profound significance for nursing students to engage in discussions about hospice and palliative care with their families. This study aimed to explore nursing students' willingness to discuss hospice and palliative care with their families and the factors associated with it. METHODS: = 1,234) completed questionnaires on general information, hospice and palliative care awareness, attitude toward death, and willingness to discuss hospice and palliative care with their families. This cross-sectional analysis utilized logistic regression to investigate the predictors of participants' willingness to discuss hospice and palliative care with their families. RESULTS: The mean hospice and palliative care knowledge score was 6.68, and 19.1% were willing to discuss the topic with their families. Factors associated with nursing students' willingness to discuss hospice and palliative care with their families included region, whether their family members considered talking about death a taboo, whether a family member was severely ill and at risk of death, their knowledge of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, hospice and palliative care knowledge score, and death avoidance attitude. Participants with higher hospice and palliative care knowledge scores were more willing to discuss the topic with their families, while a higher death avoidance score was associated with unwillingness. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: Nursing students significantly lack hospice and palliative care awareness, and their willingness to discuss the topic with their families needs improvement. Nursing schools should provide systematic and standardized hospice and palliative care education and communication skills training.

Source: Palliative & Supportive Care

DOI: 10.1017/s1478951525100801

Authors: Hui Li, Huaiting Gu, Tingting Xu, Qiushi Liu

Institutions: Jining Medical University, Shandong First Medical University, Hainan Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Palliative and Oncologic Care

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,550