Views, emotional Reaction, and Bereavement Healing Rituals of Saudi Male Nursing Students: A Qualitative Approach

Omega (Westport). 2023 Nov;88(1):287-302. doi: 10.1177/00302228221129896. Epub 2022 Sep 28.

Abstract

Aim: The study described the perception and attitude of Saudi male nursing students towards death and dying.

Methods: This qualitative study recruited Twelve male Saudi nursing students from Nursing Department at University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Data collection was conducted using unstructured one-on-one online interviews from January to February 2021 using thematic approach to analyse the data.

Results: The result of the study presented three themes. The first theme describes the Muslim Saudi male nursing student's religious beliefs and practices in terms of three concepts. The second theme is the emotional reaction of the participants. The third theme is bereavement healing rituals.

Conclusion: The knowledge on how nursing students with an Islamic belief view the concept of death and dying provides valuable and critical information on developing educational intervention as well as course and training contents that needs to be included in developing the competencies of these students.

Keywords: Death and dying; Nursing education; Nursing students; Qualitative study; Saudi Arabia; Thematic approach.

MeSH terms

  • Attitude to Death* / ethnology
  • Bereavement*
  • Ceremonial Behavior*
  • Culture
  • Emotions
  • Grief
  • Humans
  • Islam* / psychology
  • Male
  • Qualitative Research
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Students, Nursing* / psychology