Relationship between nurses' fatalistic dispositions and their attitudes towards euthanasia, death, and terminally ill patients: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND

Nurses' level of experience regarding providing care to dying patients and their thoughts on the "good death" term have a significant impact on the quality of the care they provide.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the relationship between fatalistic dispositions and nurses' attitudes toward euthanasia, death, and terminally ill patients.

METHODS

This study was designed as a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study. The study was performed with 319 nurses between March and May 2023.

RESULTS

A relationship between the Attitudes Toward Euthanasia, Death, and the Terminally Ill Patients Scale and the fatalistic dispositions scale in a positive direction at a moderate level was found (p < 0.05). According to the regression analysis, it was determined that the nurses' fatalistic dispositions were associated with their attitudes toward euthanasia, death, and terminally ill patients (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

To improve nurses' negative attitudes toward death, it may be recommended to develop programs that provide psychosocial support for them.