Attitudes of Palestinian nursing students toward family involvement in end-of-life care
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Providing care for dying patients is a vital aspect of nursing practice, requiring emotional resilience and clinical competence. However, nursing students often exhibit varied attitudes toward end-of-life care, influenced by educational, personal and cultural factors. Understanding these attitudes is essential for developing effective nursing curricula. AIM: This study aimed to explore the attitudes of Palestinian undergraduate nursing students toward caring for dying patients and to identify the impact of academic progression and palliative care education on these attitudes. METHODS: A cross-sectional correlational design was employed involving 355 third- and fourth-year nursing students from universities in the West Bank, Palestine. Data were collected using the Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale Form B (FATCOD-B) and analysed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics, t-tests and Pearson correlations were used to assess attitudes and associated variables. RESULTS: Students demonstrated generally positive attitudes toward caring for dying patients, with a mean FATCOD-B score of 103.5 (SD=8.30). Significant differences were observed by academic year (p=.015) and completion of a palliative care course (p<.001). Fourth-year students and those who had taken the course exhibited significantly more positive attitudes. A small but significant positive correlation was found between age and attitude (r=.143, p=.032). CONCLUSION: The findings underscore the positive impact of academic progression and structured palliative care education on students' attitudes. Incorporating end-of-life care training into nursing curricula is essential to enhance compassionate, culturally sensitive and competent care for dying patients and their families.
Authors: Mohammed Qtait, Nesreen Alqaissi
Institution: Palestine Polytechnic University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4417335069