Mediating Effects of Role Perception of Life-sustaining Treatment in the Relationship between Knowledge of Lifesustaining Treatment Plans and Attitudes toward Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment among Nursing College Students

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between Knowledge of Life-sustaining Treatment Plans and Attitudes toward Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment among nursing college students, and attempted to identify the mediating effect of Role Perception on Life-sustaining Treatment in that relationship. It is hoped that the findings will ultimately contribute to the development of active nursing strategies. Methods: The participants were 142 nursing college students in the third and fourth years of study who had experienced clinical practice at two universities in cities Y and C. Data were collected from November 1 to 30, 2019. For data analysis, SPSS for Windows version 22.0 was used to calculate descriptive statistics, the t-test, Pearson's correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. To analyze the mediating effect, the Baron and Kenny bootstrapping method was used. Results: Attitudes toward Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment of nursing college students had a significant positive correlation with Knowledge of Life-sustaining Treatment Plans (r=0.34, P＜0.001) and Role Perception on Life-sustaining Treatment (r=0.44, P ＜0.001). Role Perception on Life-sustaining Treatment partially mediated the relationship between Knowledge of Life-sustaining Treatment Plans and Attitudes toward Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment (95% CI, 0.446~1.055). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, improving nursing college students' Role Perception on Life-sustaining Treatment could be used as a coping strategy to establish positive Attitudes toward Withdrawal of Life-sustaining Treatment.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Nursing Stress Related to Life-Sustaining Treatment among Oncology Nurses

“…Furthermore, we found no significant correlation between attitudes toward LST and nursing stress related to LST. This is consistent with previous studies [ 12 , 15 , 19 ]. However, our findings conflict with those of another previous study [ 30 ], which found that a lower terminal patient care capacity correlated to a higher level of stress.…”

“…Cancer treatment, which often involves surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, is a lengthy process that demands high-level care for both patients and their guardians [ 18 ]. Therefore, nurses are tasked with caring for their assigned inpatients, patients contemplating the withdrawal of LST, and their respective family members [ 19 ]. Moreover, nurses often endure emotional strain.…”

“…In the majority of studies conducted after the implementation of the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment, the primary focus was on the attitudes, roles, and stress levels of nursing students, intensive care unit (ICU) nurses, and nurses working in various wards in relation to LST [ 12 , 14 - 16 , 19 , 20 ]. There has been limited research exploring the knowledge, attitudes, and stress levels of oncology nurses regarding LST, despite these nurses often finding themselves in situations where they must make decisions related to LST.…”