Beata Dobrowolska1, Ewelina Mazur2, Anna Pilewska-Kozak3, Katarzyna Dońka4, Bogumiła Kosicka5, Alvisa Palese6. 1. Department of Development in Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica Street 4-6, 20-081 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: beata.dobrowolska@umlub.pl. 2. Department of Infectious Diseases for Children in the Jan Boży Hospital in Lublin, Biernackiego Street 9, 20-089 Lublin, Poland. 3. Chair and Department of Gynaecology and Gynaecological Endocrinology, The Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica Street 4-6, 20-081 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: anna.pilewska-kozak@umlub.pl. 4. Chair and Department of Paediatric Nursing, The Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica Street 4-6, 20-081 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: katarzyna.donka@umlub.pl. 5. Chair and Department of Management in Nursing, The Faculty of Health Sciences, Medical University of Lublin, Staszica Street 4-6, 20-081 Lublin, Poland. Electronic address: bogumila.kosicka@umlub.pl. 6. School of Nursing, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Udine, Viale Ungheria, 20, 33100 Udine, Italy. Electronic address: alvisa.palese@uniud.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The need to provide care for the dying patient and his/her family may occur in every medical setting. Newly graduated nurses and physicians should therefore be prepared to deliver it at a high-quality level. OBJECTIVES: To explore (a) the primary difficulties participants anticipate they will encounter whilst working with dying patients, (b) their interest in developing competencies in caring for dying patients, and (c) their interest in working in palliative/hospice settings or with dying patients in the future. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: A medical university in Poland. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of nursing (=112) and medical students (=101) at the end of their undergraduate education. METHODS: Questionnaire distributed online and in hard-copy format. RESULTS: Half of the participants anticipated experiencing various emotional and professional difficulties in caring for dying individuals, especially medical students. These difficulties pertained mostly the reaction of family members to the patient's death, addressing the psychological needs of the dying person, and coping with his/her own emotions when dealing with the patient's death. Students reported that working with dying patients could cause occupational stress - more so among medical students. The majority of them showed an interest in improving knowledge regarding palliative care and also in this case this was mostly true of medical rather than nursing students. However, more than half of the participants preferred avoiding work in palliative/hospice settings, with no differences between the two groups. Participants attributed this attitude to two factors: (a) the desire to avoid negative emotions and stress that could be triggered by dealing with death and dying; and (b) because they felt they lacked the required skills and personal abilities to handle such situations. CONCLUSIONS: Undergraduate curricula that include strategies for coping with negative emotions associated with facing the process of death and dying should be developed. Interprofessional education should be encouraged, especially regarding the psychosocial aspects of end-of-life care.
BACKGROUND: The need to provide care for the dying patient and his/her family may occur in every medical setting. Newly graduated nurses and physicians should therefore be prepared to deliver it at a high-quality level. OBJECTIVES: To explore (a) the primary difficulties participants anticipate they will encounter whilst working with dying patients, (b) their interest in developing competencies in caring for dying patients, and (c) their interest in working in palliative/hospice settings or with dying patients in the future. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: A medical university in Poland. PARTICIPANTS: Convenience sample of nursing (=112) and medical students (=101) at the end of their undergraduate education. METHODS: Questionnaire distributed online and in hard-copy format. RESULTS: Half of the participants anticipated experiencing various emotional and professional difficulties in caring for dying individuals, especially medical students. These difficulties pertained mostly the reaction of family members to the patient's death, addressing the psychological needs of the dying person, and coping with his/her own emotions when dealing with the patient's death. Students reported that working with dying patients could cause occupational stress - more so among medical students. The majority of them showed an interest in improving knowledge regarding palliative care and also in this case this was mostly true of medical rather than nursing students. However, more than half of the participants preferred avoiding work in palliative/hospice settings, with no differences between the two groups. Participants attributed this attitude to two factors: (a) the desire to avoid negative emotions and stress that could be triggered by dealing with death and dying; and (b) because they felt they lacked the required skills and personal abilities to handle such situations. CONCLUSIONS: Undergraduate curricula that include strategies for coping with negative emotions associated with facing the process of death and dying should be developed. Interprofessional education should be encouraged, especially regarding the psychosocial aspects of end-of-life care.