Perception of “dignified death” for students and doctors

Abstract Death is the definitive end of life in the body. The technological advances of medicine have made it possible to prolong the process of dying. This study aimed to discover the perception of medical students and medical professionals about a good death, and analyzed the differences between the groups and their correlates based on demographic variables. A total of 398 people, equally divided among medical students and doctors, participated in the study. Most of the participants were male (57.8%), with a mean age of 34.5. They responded to the GDPS (Good Death Perception Scale) and demographic questions. Results indicated that doctors preferred to die in a hospital (74%) and students at home (74%). The latter obtained a higher mean GDPS score (M = 5.6, SD = 0.6). Despite its limitations, this study allows the consideration of future practices inherent to the conception of a good death by health professionals, improving the doctor-patient relationship.