Undergraduate Nursing Students' Palliative Care Knowledge and Attitudes: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study Publisher



Tonekaboni F Q ; Qazizadeh H ; Taslimi K ; Matourypour P
Source: Evidence Based Care Journal Published:2026

Abstract

Background: The growing elderly population and prevalence of chronic diseases have elevated palliative care as a global public health concern. The knowledge and attitudes of undergraduate nursing students regarding palliative care will impact the quality of care in the future. Aim: This study was conducted with aim to evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of nursing students towards palliative care among at Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 204 on nursing students in their 5th to 8th academic semesters at Tehran University of Medical Sciences in 2022. Data was collected using the Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing (PCQN) and a researcher-developed attitude questionnaire through an online survey. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software (version 16.0). p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The analysis of the attitude questionnaire showed that 87.3% of participants had a positive attitude towards palliative care. Gender was a significant factor in attitude, with women scoring higher (p=0.0001). The mean PCQN score was 10.26 ± 2.33, indicating limited knowledge. There was no significant correlation between knowledge and attitude scores. Implications for Practice: Most undergraduate nursing students had inadequate knowledge about palliative care, but they generally held positive attitudes towards it. Therefore, it is crucial to develop an effective palliative care program for nursing students by implementing a unified curriculum. Copyright © 2023 Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, All rights reserved. Available on line: https://ebcj.mums.ac.ir/article_26919.html