Evaluation of the death attitude profile-revised: A study with health science undergraduate students

Abstract

Objective: to identify the profile of attitudes towards death in undergraduate students from in the health science area. Method: a cross-sectional study performed with undergraduates from six healthcare courses of a public university in the Federal District. The Death Attitude Profile Assessment Scale and a sociodemographic questionnaire were applied. Results: a total of 1,005 students participated in the study. The neutral acceptance attitude obtained higher average scores among the undergraduate students, higher averages in the fear of death dimension are presented in younger students and lower means of avoidance of death in older students, who attended the first semester of the undergraduate course. The acceptance and approach acceptance dimensions obtained higher averages in male undergraduate students. It was observed that 59.9% of the participants had no prior experience of loss and 75.4% reported not having participated in any discussions about death or dying. Conclusion: based on the results found in the research, the need for discussions on the subject of death and dying beginning in the first semesters in undergraduate courses is reinforced, this is in order to provide a positive attitude towards death and future health professionals exercise their care in a more qualified manner.