Attitudes, Beliefs and Anxiety towards death in the health professionals of the SOLCA Ambato Oncology Hospital

Abstract

The research evaluates the levels of Attitudes towards Death, Beliefs regarding the Terminal Patient, and Death Anxiety, and the relationship of these variables in 110 health professionals (treating doctors, resident doctors, nurses, and nursing assistants) of the SOLCA Oncology Hospital Ambato. The methodology is quantitative, has a non-experimental design and a descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional scope. The evaluations were carried out through the Death Attitudes Questionnaire, the Beliefs Questionnaire Regarding the Terminal Patient, and the Death Anxiety Scale. The results indicate that the dimensions of Transit Attitudes and Fear are high, while the dimensions of Exit Attitudes, Distancing/Acceptance, Emotional Impact, and Defensiveness are low. Beliefs about death reached a moderate intensity, with agreement that the patient presents symptoms linked to pain that are difficult to treat, and that what worries him most is being able to control these symptoms, while highlighting the importance of receiving psychological support in this process. The Anxiety results were moderate, with no statistically significant differences by sex. Low positive correlations were observed between Beliefs and Attitudes (particularly the attitudinal dimension of Exit); Moderate positive correlations were also found between Anxiety and Attitudes (especially with the attitudinal dimensions of: Fear, Distancing-acceptance, and Defensiveness), all correlations were statistically significant. It is estimated that Attitudes predict the presence of Anxiety by 17.8%. Conclusions: Education about death and palliative care reduces anxiety levels and allows a more effective attitude towards the terminally ill and their family.