The effect of spiritual care training on nursing students’ attitudes towards caring for the dying patient
Mojtaba Jafari, Sadegh Yoosefee, Asra NassehiBACKGROUND:
Death is an inevitable reality and a significant source of stress in the nursing profession. They play a vital role in providing comprehensive care for dying patients. This study aimed to determine the effect of spiritual care education on nursing students’ attitudes towards caring for dying patients.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
This quasi-experimental, pre/post-test study involved 55 nursing students from the Faculty of Nursing in Bam, Iran, in 2024. Participants were selected via convenience sampling. Demographic data and the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying Questionnaire (FATCOD) were collected at baseline. The spiritual care training protocol consisted of two classroom sessions and an educational booklet delivered over 1 week. Three weeks post-intervention, the FATCOD was re-administered as a post-test. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods, with statistical significance set at
RESULTS:
The mean age of participants was 22.65 ± 2.43 years (range: 19–30 years), with most being female and single. The mean total attitude score towards caring for dying patients significantly increased from 106.05 ± 9.41 pre-intervention to 112.29 ± 8.83 post-intervention (
CONCLUSION:
Spiritual care education positively influenced nursing students’ attitudes towards caring for dying patients. This educational intervention can improve students’ preparedness and outlook. Therefore, nursing educators and officials should consider incorporating spiritual care training into curriculum planning and educational objectives to empower students in providing care for this patient population.