[Planning for death with dignity: an international clinical and educational approach under the umbrella of citizens' knowledge].

Abstract

Objective: To identify university students' knowledge and perception of the process of dignified death.

Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study involving postgraduate students of the International University of La Rioja (Spain), enrolled during the academic year 2020-2021. A simple random sampling was carried out with N=215. Inclusion criteria were to be aged between 25-65 years and have a clear command of Spanish. A self-adminis-tered questionnaire was used for data collection. A descriptive and bivariate analysis of the data obtained was carried out.

Results: 136 individuals participated. Knowledge of the right to a dignified death and its regulations represented an average of 5.43. The 6.56 think that in their environment peo-ple talk openly about death, and 6.59 believe that in their city the responsibility for the patient's health-illness process lies with the doctor. An average of 9.22 think it is necessary for schools to provide pupils with information/education on the process of life and death.

Discussion: the participants in the study have a fair knowledge of the regulation of death with dignity, but they perceive this right favourably and consider the need for its dissemination by health and educational institutions.