A Qualitative Study of Perception and Experience Toward End-of-Life Care Among Nursing Students Who Witnessed Dying People in Their Family

Abstract

Hartiah Haroen,1 Ristina Mirwanti,2 Hana Rizmadewi Agustina,3 Tuti Pahria,4 Hasniatisari Harun,4 Cynthia Pomaa Akuoko,5 Nadirawati Nadirawati6 1Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia; 2Department of Critical Care and Emergency Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia; 3Department of Fundamental Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia; 4Department of Medical-Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Sumedang, Indonesia; 5Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health and Applied Science, Christian Service University College, Kumasi, Ghana; 6Nursing Sciences Program, Faculty of Health Science and Technology, Universitas Jenderal Ahmad Yani, Cimahi, IndonesiaCorrespondence: Hartiah Haroen, Department of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Padjadjaran, Ir Soekarno KM 21 street, Jatinangor, Sumedang, West Java, 45363, Indonesia, Tel [phone], Email [email protected]: This study aims to explore nursing students’ perception and experience of end-of-life care (EoLC) in Indonesia, particularly in the family environment.Methods: This study used a qualitative research design to explore the experiences and perceptions of nursing students who have witnessed the dying of their family members. The study recruited 15 nursing students using a purposive sampling method, who were then invited to reflect and write their experiences in witnessing death of their families, and perceptions towards EoLC. The written reflections were analyzed using thematic analysis.Results: Thematic analysis showed that the experience of witnessing dying of a family member shaped nursing students’ perceptions and attitudes towards EoLC. Some themes that emerged in this study included the importance of effective communication with patients and their families, symptom management, spiritual, emotional, and social support, as well as the need to improve nursing education and training.Conclusion: This present study shows that the experience of witnessing the death of a family member shapes nursing students’ perceptions of EoLC in Indonesia. This present study provides recommendations that the students must be prepared emotionally and psychologically in caring EoL or dying patients. How attitude and readiness to care EoL patients are shaped by the experience in witnessing the dying family or loved one. As such, palliative and EoL curriculum should be included methods that allow desensitization and naturalization of dying for the students in order to make them ready to provide better EoLC for patients and their families. The results of this study can contribute to improving the quality of EoLC in Indonesia.Keywords: end-of-life care, death, family, nursing student, spiritual care

Keywords

• end-of-life care
• death
• family
• nursing student
• spiritual care.