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.