ATTITUDES AND COPING TOWARD DEATH IN NURSING STAFF

Abstract

Introduction. The objective of the study was to describe the attitude and level of coping with death in the nursing professionals of the Oncology, Hematology and Palliative Care Units of the University Hospital of Leon.

Methodology. A quantitative, descriptive, observational and transverse design has been used. The instrument was a self-administered questionnaire composed of: Sociodemographic variables, Revised Profile of Attitudes towards Death (PAM-R) and Bugen's Scale of Death Coping (1980-1981).

Results. A response rate of 79.16% was obtained (n = 56). In our population, 27% of the nurses, present a good coping with death, compared to 15% of the nursing assistant (p = 0.566). For services, 47% of palliative professionals have good coping, 12% in oncology and 14% in hematology (p = 0.119). About the attitudes, and due to the size of the sample, no statistically significant results were obtained.

Conclusions. The nursing staff of the Palliative Service presents a better coping than Oncology and Hematology staff. The population under study understands death as a natural aspect of life and they does not believe that the solution to the problems of life, is death. Further training would improve both the attitude and coping in nursing staff, which would lead to better care for patients and their families.