Nursing students’ attitudes toward care of dying patients: Validation of the 9-item Polish version of the Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale Form B questionnaire

Introduction: The study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the 9-item Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying Scale Form B (FATCOD-B) questionnaire and evaluation of attitudes toward care for dying patients among undergraduate nursing students. Participants and methods: The study was based on 199 first-degree nursing students at the WSG University in Bydgoszcz. The respondents were asked to complete a questionnaire containing 9 items extracted from the Polish version of FATCOD-B, based on Italian research. Additionally, the respondents completed a demographic form that included questions about their religious beliefs, previously acquired knowledge, and experiences in the care of a dying person. The temporal consistency of the questionnaire was assessed in a group of 98 students using the test-retest method conducted at two-week intervals (9-item version, 30-item version, and 9-item version). Results: The psychometric value of the 9-item FATCOD-B-PL scale expressed by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.73, indicating an acceptable level of internal consistency. The temporal stability of the questionnaire confirmed by test-retest analysis showed a good level of agreement between the three measurements [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.76]. Female gender and previous education about death and dying were factors influencing the questionnaire’s score. Women achieved higher scores compared to men (p = 0.0336), indicating a more positive attitude toward caring for dying persons. Students who had previously participated in any education about death and dying demonstrated a better attitude (p = 0.007) compared to those who had not previously participated in education on this topic. Conclusions: The abbreviated Polish version of the FATCOD-B questionnaire is a reliable tool for assessing attitudes toward care for dying patients. Undergraduate nursing students demonstrate relatively positive attitudes toward caring for the dying.