Perception of Good Death and Attitudes toward Death between ER Nurses and Coroners

Abstract

Purpose: This study was conducted to describe and compare how emergency room (ER) nurses and coroners perceive good death and their attitudes toward death. Methods: A survey was performed with 51 ER nurses in P city and 44 coroners nationwide. Data were collected from October 1, 2010 through February 28, 2011. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANCOVA, Scheffe’ s test using the IBM SPSS statistics 21.0 program. Results: For the perception of good death and attitudes toward death, coroners scored higher (3.01±0.43 and 2.87±0.35, respectively) than ER nurses group (2.95±0.40 and 2.61± 0.33, respectively), but the differences were not significant. The results of perception of good death a nd attitudes toward death were not statistically significant between ER nurses and coroners. Conclusion: The study showed no difference between ER nurses’ perception of good death and attitudes toward death and those h eld by coroners. The findings of the study show that it is necessary to offer steady education on death to nurs es and coroners to help them build a proper understanding of good death and grow positive attitudes toward death.