Research on the Cognitive Status of Hospice Care among Undergraduate Nursing Students: A Cross-Sectional Survey

This study aimed to investigate the cognitive level of Hospice Care and its influencing factors among undergraduate nursing students in Hunan Province, China, to provide a basis for optimizing the Hospice Care education system and enhancing its quality. From December 2024 to January 2025, a random sample of full-time undergraduate nursing students from two universities in Hunan Province was selected as study participants. Data were collected via Wenjuanxing using a general information questionnaire and the Nurses' Hospice Care Knowledge Scale (NHKS). A total of 542 questionnaires were distributed, with 486 valid responses returned, yielding an effective response rate of 89.7%. The mean Hospice Care knowledge score among nursing undergraduates was 20.15 ± 6.46. Low scores were observed in the domains of Overview, Comfort Care, and Symptom Management. Personal gender, grade, hospital internship experience and other factors were statistically different (P <0.05). The findings suggest that while nursing undergraduates in Hunan Province possess a moderate-to-high overall awareness of Hospice Care, significant variations exist across knowledge dimensions. The highest scoring rate was observed in the Family Care dimension (88.99%), whereas the lowest was in the Comfort Care dimension (31.58%). It is recommended that nursing institutions prioritize enhancing theoretical knowledge and implement targeted, dynamic educational strategies to comprehensively improve students' cognitive competence in Hospice Care.