COMPARING THE DIFFERENCE IN NURSES' KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES (NDES) BEFORE AND AFTER RECEIVING NDE EDUCATION

Abstract

Near-death experiences (NDEs) have been reported in approximately 6.3% to 39.3% of patients who survived death or critical illness. Research indicated that health care professionals, of whom nurses are the largest group, received little education or training on NDEs. Nurses' responses to a disclosure could help the patient integrate the experience or contribute to stress and isolation. National nursing standards do not address education or competencies specific to NDEs, and few studies have examined educational programs on the topic. This quasi-experimental study examined changes in nurses' knowledge and attitudes before and after a three-part asynchronous training on NDEs, measured with the Knowledge and Attitudes About Near-Death Experiences Scale (KANDES). The research questions addressed the relationship between knowledge and attitudes and the changes in each after training. Participants were 41 registered nurses employed in Kaiser Permanente (KP) Northern California facilities. They completed a pretest, three asynchronous modules, and a 1-week delayed posttest through a secure online survey platform, along with a demographic questionnaire. The analysis used descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho, a paired-samples t test, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Knowledge and attitudes were positively related at both the pretest and the posttest, and both increased significantly from the pretest to the 1-week delayed posttest. All four alternative hypotheses were supported. The findings may inform nursing continuing education and future research on NDE training for health care professionals.