The Attitude of Iranian Nursing Students Towards End-of-Life Care: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: End-of-life care is a critical component of nursing within healthcare systems. The attitudes of nursing students towards this care significantly impact the quality of nursing services they provide. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the attitudes of Iranian nursing students towards end-of-life care. Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from 230 nursing students enrolled at the Islamic Azad University s Medical Sciences Faculty in Karaj, Iran, between April 24 and June 10, 2023. Participants were selected through convenience sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was employed, which included demographic information and the Iranian-adapted Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale form B-I (FATCOD-BI). Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Results: The study achieved an effective response rate of 86.95%. The mean FATCOD-BI score was 98.76 (SD = 9.91), with a range of 74 to 138. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in attitudes towards end-of-life care based on gender (P = 0.036), academic semester (P = 0.027), and prior training received (P = 0.037). Conclusions: Nursing students demonstrated a generally positive attitude towards end-of-life care. This attitude was influenced by factors such as the level of education, gender, and prior training. Aligning nursing education with real-world professional demands is essential to closing the theoretical-practical gap. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating end-of-life care modules into the undergraduate nursing curriculum, highlighting a key priority for curriculum planners and nursing education policymakers.