The Impact of Palliative Care Knowledge and Death Attitudes on Palliative Care Attitudes Among Vocational Nursing Students

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between palliative care knowledge, death attitudes, and palliative care attitudes among vocational nursing students, aiming to identify factors that influence their approach to end-of-life care. Through an online survey, data were collected on demographics, palliative care knowledge, death attitudes, and attitudes toward palliative care. Pearson correlation and linear regression analyses revealed that palliative care attitudes were significantly influenced by both knowledge and death attitudes. Specifically, natural acceptance of death positively impacted palliative care attitudes, while escape acceptance and fear of death had negative effects. These findings suggest that fostering natural acceptance of death and addressing death-related fears in educational programs can help improve vocational nursing students' attitudes toward palliative care and enhance their readiness for end-of-life care.