Attitude toward death and dying and resilience response among healthcare professionals in a tertiary care center, western Rajasthan, India

Objectives: In healthcare, especially in tertiary care centers, professionals often encounter death and end-of-life scenarios. Their attitudes toward death and coping abilities impact their well-being and the quality of care provided. This study aimed to assess attitudes about death and resilience among healthcare professionals. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 128 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and physiotherapists, in a tertiary care center in Western Rajasthan. A purposive sampling technique was used. Data were collected using two standardized self-report tools: the Death Attitude Profile-Revised, a 32-item 7-point Likert scale assessing attitudes toward death, and the 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, measuring resilience levels. A Pearson Correlation and Univariate F-test were used along with descriptive analysis. Results: The mean age of doctors was 28.2(±3.6) years, while that of nurses and allied professionals was 31.3(±3.9) years. Findings indicated a moderate level of fear of death and avoidance behavior, with a high acceptance of death as a natural event. Female professionals reported higher levels of death-related fear compared to males. Older participants more often viewed death as an escape from suffering. Doctors demonstrated significantly greater anxiety related to death. In terms of resilience, 47.2% of participants fell into the intermediate resilience category, while 29.1% were least resilient. Conclusion: The study concludes that diverse professional roles, cultural beliefs, experience with dying patients, and prior training in palliative care influence attitudes and resilience. Targeted interventions and role-specific training in palliative care are recommended to enhance resilience and preparedness in end-of-life care.