Jennifer W Beall1, Amy E Broeseker. 1. McWhorter School of Pharmacy, Samford University, 800Lakeshore Drive, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA. jwbeall@samford.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To assess pharmacy students' attitudes toward death and end-of-life care. METHODS: Third-year pharmacy students enrolled in the Ethics in Christianity and Health Care course were administered a survey instrument prior to introduction of the topic of end-of-life care. Students' attitudes toward different professions' roles in end-of-life care and their comfort in discussing end-of-life issues were assessed. The survey instrument was readministered to the same students at the end of their fourth year. RESULTS: On most survey items, female students responded more favorably toward death and end-of-life care than male students. One exception was the perceived emotional ability to be in the room of a dying patient or loved one. Post-experiential survey responses were generally more favorable toward death and end-of-life care than were pre-discussion responses. CONCLUSIONS: In general, when surveyed concerning death and end-of-life care, female students responded more favorably than male students, and responses at the end of the fourth year were more favorable than at the beginning of the course.
OBJECTIVES: To assess pharmacy students' attitudes toward death and end-of-life care. METHODS: Third-year pharmacy students enrolled in the Ethics in Christianity and Health Care course were administered a survey instrument prior to introduction of the topic of end-of-life care. Students' attitudes toward different professions' roles in end-of-life care and their comfort in discussing end-of-life issues were assessed. The survey instrument was readministered to the same students at the end of their fourth year. RESULTS: On most survey items, female students responded more favorably toward death and end-of-life care than male students. One exception was the perceived emotional ability to be in the room of a dying patient or loved one. Post-experiential survey responses were generally more favorable toward death and end-of-life care than were pre-discussion responses. CONCLUSIONS: In general, when surveyed concerning death and end-of-life care, female students responded more favorably than male students, and responses at the end of the fourth year were more favorable than at the beginning of the course.
Entities:
Keywords:
attitudes; death; end-of-life care; pharmacy students
Authors: Eric F Egelund; Jane Gannon; Carol Motycka; W Thomas Smith; Dale F Kraemer; Kathleen H Solomon Journal: Am J Pharm Educ Date: 2019-05 Impact factor: 2.047