Mediating Effects of Role Perception of Life-sustaining Treatment in the Relationship between Knowledge of Life-sustaining Treatment Plans and Attitudes toward Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment among Nursing College Students.

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between Knowledge of Life-sustaining Treatment Plans and Attitudes toward Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment among nursing college students, and attempted to identify the mediating effect of Role Perception on Life-sustaining Treatment in that relationship. It is hoped that the findings will ultimately contribute to the development of active nursing strategies. The participants were 142 nursing college students in the third and fourth years of study who had experienced clinical practice at two universities in cities Y and C. Data were collected from November 1 to 30, 2019. For data analysis, SPSS for Windows version 22.0 was used to calculate descriptive statistics, the t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. To analyze the mediating effect, the Baron and Kenny bootstrapping method was used. Attitudes toward Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment of nursing college students had a significant positive correlation with Knowledge of Life-sustaining Treatment Plans (r=0.34, P<0.001) and Role Perception on Life-sustaining Treatment (r=0.44, P<0.001). Role Perception on Life-sustaining Treatment partially mediated the relationship between Knowledge of Life-sustaining Treatment Plans and Attitudes toward Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment (95% CI, 0.446~1.055). Based on the results of this study, improving nursing college students' Role Perception on Life-sustaining Treatment could be used as a coping strategy to establish positive Attitudes toward Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment.