Table 4.
FATCOD item data
| FATCOD Item | Pre-Simulation | Post-Simulation | Difference in means | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean Score | Standard Deviation | Mean Score | Standard Deviation | ||
| 1. Giving care to the dying person is a worthwhile experience | 4.68 | 0.75 | 4.89 | 0.32 | 0.21 |
| 2. Death is not the worst thing that can happen to a person | 3.63 | 1.38 | 3.79 | 1.13 | 0.16 |
| 3. I would be uncomfortable talking about impending death with a dying person | 2.74 | 1.15 | 3.58 | 1.02 | 0.84 |
| 4. Caring for the patient’s family should continue throughout the period of grief and bereavement | 4.63 | 0.50 | 4.89 | 0.32 | 0.26 |
| 5. I would not want to care for a dying person | 4.53 | 0.51 | 4.63 | 0.50 | 0.1 |
| 6. The non-family caregiver should not be the one to talk about death with the dying person | 3.89 | 0.99 | 3.89 | 1.10 | 0 |
| 7. The length of time required to give care to a dying person would frustrate me | 4.32 | 0.89 | 4.79 | 0.42 | 0.47 |
| 8. I would be upset when the dying person I was caring for, gave up hope of getting better | 2.89 | 1.05 | 3.58 | 1.12 | 0.69 |
| 9. It is difficult to form a close relationship with the dying person | 4.26 | 0.65 | 4.05 | 0.97 | −0.21 |
| 10. There are times when death is welcomed by the dying person. | 4.16 | 0.90 | 4.32 | 0.58 | 0.16 |
| 11. When a patient asks, “Am I dying?”, I think it is best to change the subject to something cheerful | 4.16 | 0.83 | 4.53 | 0.61 | 0.37 |
| 12. The family should be involved in the physical care of the dying person if they want to | 4.32 | 0.75 | 4.42 | 0.61 | 0.10 |
| 13. I would hope the person I’m caring for dies when I am not present | 3.68 | 1.11 | 4.26 | 0.73 | 0.58 |
| 14. I am afraid to become friends with a dying person | 3.84 | 1.12 | 4.21 | 0.63 | 0.37 |
| 15. I would feel like running away when the person actually died | 4.00 | 0.94 | 4.47 | 0.70 | 0.47 |
| 16. Families need emotional support to accept the behaviour changes of the dying person | 4.37 | 0.68 | 4.68 | 0.48 | 0.31 |
| 17. As a patient nears death, the non-family care-giver should withdraw from his/her involvement with the patient | 3.89 | 0.94 | 4.00 | 0.88 | 0.11 |
| 18. Families should be concerned about helping their dying member make the best of his/her remaining life | 3.79 | 0.79 | 3.89 | 1.05 | 0.10 |
| 19. The dying person should not be allowed to make decisions about his/her physical care. | 4.68 | 0.75 | 4.53 | 0.61 | −0.15 |
| 20. Families should maintain as normal an environment as possible for their dying member | 3.79 | 0.79 | 4.16 | 0.83 | 0.37 |
| 21. It is beneficial for the dying person to verbalize his/her feelings. | 4.37 | 0.60 | 4.16 | 0.83 | −0.21 |
| 22. Care should extend to the family of the dying person | 4.21 | 0.54 | 4.68 | 0.48 | 0.47 |
| 23. Care-givers should permit dying persons to have flexible visiting schedules | 4.58 | 0.61 | 4.89 | 0.32 | 0.31 |
| 24. The dying person and his/her family should be the in-charge decision makers | 3.68 | 0.95 | 3.84 | 0.96 | 0.16 |
| 25. Addiction to pain relieving medication should not be a concern when dealing with a dying person. | 3.58 | 1.17 | 4.05 | 1.13 | 0.47 |
| 26. I would be uncomfortable if I entered the room of a terminally ill person and found him/her crying | 3.37 | 1.12 | 3.95 | 0.85 | 0.58 |
| 27. Dying persons should be given honest answers about their condition | 4.26 | 0.45 | 4.47 | 0.51 | 0.21 |
| 28. Educating families about death and dying is not a non-family care-givers responsibility | 3.79 | 1.03 | 4.26 | 0.87 | 0.47 |
| 29. Family members who stay close to a dying person often interfere with the professionals’ job with the patient. | 3.53 | 0.90 | 3.89 | 0.88 | 0.83 |
| 30. It is possible for non-family care-givers to help patients prepare for death | 4.00 | 1.05 | 4.32 | 0.89 | 0.32 |