Effects of Course in Hospice Nursing: Attitudes and Behaviors of Baccalaureate School of Nursing Undergraduates and Graduates

Abstract

The study is a longitudinal quasiexperimental study of two groups of baccalaureate school of nursing students ( n = 6) and graduates ( n = 69). One group completed a course in hospice nursing; the control group said they would elect to enroll in the course were it offered. The attitudinal component, focusing on fears of death and dying, was measured by the Colett-Lester Fear of Death Scale. The behavioral component, focusing on self-reported avoidance behaviors towards dying, alcoholic, psychiatric, and AIDS patients, was measured by the Social Distance Scale. Between 1980 and 1985 pretest data were collected on the first day of a hospice nursing course and posttest data on the last day. Delayed posttest data were collected in 1985 from students and those graduates who could be located. Analysis of pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest scores indicated significantly less fear of death and dying and significantly fewer avoidance behaviors toward dying, alcoholic, psychiatric, and AIDS patients in the trained group's delayed posttest scores. Maintaining social distance or avoiding groups perceived as low in social worth such as the dying, alcoholic, psychiatric, and AIDS patient was a very real occurrence.