Perception of Good Death and Attitudes toward Death between ER Nurses and Coroners

Han, Ji Young

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was conducted to describe and compare how emergency room (ER) nurses and coroners perceive good death and their attitudes toward death.
METHODS
A survey was performed with 51 ER nurses in P city and 44 coroners nationwide. Data were collected from October 1, 2010 through February 28, 2011. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANCOVA, Scheffe's test using the IBM SPSS statistics 21.0 program.
RESULTS
For the perception of good death and attitudes toward death, coroners scored higher (3.01+/-0.43 and 2.87+/-0.35, respectively) than ER nurses group (2.95+/-0.40 and 2.61+/-0.33, respectively), but the differences were not significant. The results of perception of good death and attitudes toward death were not statistically significant between ER nurses and coroners.
CONCLUSION
The study showed no difference between ER nurses' perception of good death and attitudes toward death and those held by coroners. The findings of the study show that it is necessary to offer steady education on death to nurses and coroners to help them build a proper understanding of good death and grow positive attitudes toward death.