Comparative analysis of attitudes of ambulance personnel and paramedic students regarding death and dying

Introduction: The emergency care staff witness the experience of dying and death on a daily basis. Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the current and future ambulance personnel's fear of death and its influencing factors. Method: Quantitative, cross-sectional comparative study was conducted including 106 participants (active rescue ambulance personnel, n = 45 persons; paramedic students, n = 61). A voluntary, anonymous questionnaire survey method (the Neimeyer-Moore Multidimensional Fear of Death Scale) was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using descriptive and mathematical statistical tests (T-test, analysis of variance). Results: The students had a greater fear in the "Fear for Significant Others" factor (p = 0.001). Students showed stronger fear who lived in cities, had higher educational qualifications, who where women (p = 0.036), singles (p = 0.046), those who have not seen a dying person (p = 0.017) and those who were never witnessed death. Greater fear characterized the ambulance personnel who were village residents, those living in a partnership (p = 0.027), those with lower educational level (p = 0.041) and those who had been working for a longer time. Conclusions: There is no significant difference between the levels of fear of death of the present and future ambulance personnel. However, the practice-oriented education is very important and, training associated with death and dying should be integrated in the educational schedules of the paramedic students.