Thanatology. Knowledge and attitudes about death in doctors and students from three medical schools

Abstract

The knowledge and attitudes toward death in physicians and students are practically unknown In Medellin. This Investigation describes the variables knowledge, anxiety, attitude and orientation towards death, communication with the patent and family, and level of Instruction. A questioner was performed to a sample of 358 persons distributed between physicians and students. A mean of death anxiety of 5.5(SD =2.5) was found according to Temple-McMordy's scale, Independent from sex, religion and level of Instruction. The preferred physician-patent- and physician- family communication style was direct in more than 70%. The Instruction gotten at colleges was evaluated as regular or bad. The faculties are not giving the sufficient Information, because the 79% hove unresolved expectations about the theme. The thanatological instruction should be enlarged to provide a more human exercise of the medical profession.