APPLICATION OF THE FATCOD SCALE TO ASSESS NURSING STUDENTS' BEHAVIOR IN PALLIATIVE CARE

Abstract

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/gt.v9i18.0386

Abstract

Introduction: Palliative care at the end of life is a fundamental practice for healthcare personnel and represents a skill for nursing professionals. Therefore, the attitudinal and behavioral role of students is necessary to provide quality, compassionate care to terminal patients and their families. Objective: To evaluate the application of the Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying (FATCOD-B) scale in the behavior of nursing students in palliative care. Methodology: Quantitative, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. The final sample consisted of 157 seventh- and eighth-semester students from the Technical University of Ambato. The FATCOD-B scale, previously adapted and validated within the Ecuadorian context, was applied and analyzed using five domains evaluated on a Likert scale. Data processing was performed using SPSS v.31 software. Results: Neutral attitudes were predominant in the research, with a percentage of 58.1%; the domains of communication and comfort, and the role of the family were assessed with positive attitudes; however, the remaining domains were ambivalent when interpreted as neutral attitudes. Conclusion: Although students have a solid foundation in theoretical and ethical knowledge, their neutral attitude triggers emotional imbalance in their professional conduct when faced with death, highlighting the need for resilience.

Keywords: Nursing; integrative palliative care; hospice and palliative care nursing; terminally ill; nursing students, hospice care.