Determinants of attitude toward death by students enrolled in coordinated undergraduate dietetic programs

Data on personal exposure, clinical experience, and educational preparation for dealing with death and dying were collected from 599 student dietitians from 43 coordinated undergraduate dietetic programs. Attitude toward death score was derived from a 15-item modified version of Coolbeth and Sullivan's Death Attitude Questionnaire. Mean score were analyzed using analysis of variance. Scores for all groups (means ranged from 56.8 to 59.9) denoted a positive attitude. No significant differences attributable to the effects of clinical experience (mean = 56.8) or to the interaction of factors were evident. Statistically significant (p less than .05) differences in attitude as a result of personal exposure (mean = 58.1) and educational preparation (mean = 57.8) were noted. Overall, findings of this study suggest that dietetic programs should seek to incorporate death education in curriculums to prepare students to provide emotional support to dying patients and grieving families.