Factors Influencing Perception of Hospice Palliative Care in High School Students in Korea / 한국호스피스완화의료학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was to investigate the relationships between spiritual well-being, attitude towards death and perception of hospice, and the factors influencing hospice perception of high school students. METHODS: A survey was conducted with 229 students in four high schools in B city from May 1, 2015 through May 31, 2015. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, stepwise multiple regression using the SPSS 18.0 program. This study was approved by the internal review board. RESULTS: The factors influencing hospice perception of the high school students were previous recognition of hospice (β=0.412, P<0.001), attitude towards death preparation among sub-variables of attitude towards death (β=-0.244, P<0.001), subjective school life satisfaction (β=-0.215, P<0.001), and sex (β=0.191, P<0.001). The more positive the attitude towards my body after death and that towards death preparation was, the more positive recognition for hospice was. The total explanatory power of these factors was 34.5%. CONCLUSION: To improve high school students' perception of hospice, it is necessary to provide them with a hospice education program to help them with their attitudes towards death preparation and their understanding of hospice.