The Relationship Between Palliative Care Knowledge Level and Death Perception Among Final-Semester Nursing Students

Çiçek Saruhan; Funda Gümüş

doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1639537

The Relationship Between Palliative Care Knowledge Level and Death Perception Among Final-Semester Nursing Students

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to examine the relationship between the level of palliative care knowledge and death perception among final-semester nursing students. Methods: This cross-sectional and descriptive study was carried out between 15 June and 30 June 2023 with final-semester nursing students at Dicle University (N=130). Data collection tools included a personal information form, the Palliative Care Knowledge Test, and the Death Perception Scale. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) were employed for data analysis. Pearson’s correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationships between the scales, while Student’s t-test and ANOVA were utilized to compare scale scores based on demographic variables. The internal consistency of the scales was analyzed utilizing Cronbach’s α coefficient. The statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Of the participants, 40.8% perceived death as an end, whereas 20.8% perceived it as a beginning. Moreover, 80.8% reported having seen a dying person, 37.6% had provided care to a dying individual, and 72.8% had worked in an intensive care unit (ICU). It was found that students who had worked in an ICU had significantly higher levels of palliative care knowledge compared to those who had not (t=1.98; p=0.04). However, working in an ICU did not appear to influence death perception (t=-1.28; p=0.20). Conclusion: This study revealed that nursing students who had experience in ICU settings demonstrated a higher level of palliative care knowledge, but this experience did not alter their perception of death. In this context, integrating palliative care education into nursing curricula is recommended.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

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Project Number

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Ethical Statement

Approval for the study was obtained from the Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the Dicle University Faculty of Medicine on June 14, 2023 (Approval No: 213). Additionally, permissions were obtained from the Dean’s Office of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Dicle University, the authors who conducted the validity and reliability studies of the scales, and the students who participated in this study, both verbally and in writing.

Thanks

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References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Health Care Administration

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Çiçek Saruhan ^*
0000-0002-3934-501X
Türkiye

Funda Gümüş
0000-0002-3827-0909
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

September 9, 2025

Publication Date

October 1, 2025

Submission Date

February 13, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 10, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 16 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1639537

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA53GP95YS

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

EndNote

Saruhan Ç, Gümüş F (October 1, 2025) The Relationship Between Palliative Care Knowledge Level and Death Perception Among Final-Semester Nursing Students. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 16 4 584–590.