Research Article

Assessing Intensive Care Nurses' and Physicians’ Proficiency in Ante-Post Mortem Changes: A Comprehensive Evaluation

Volume: 14 Number: 2 August 30, 2025
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Assessing Intensive Care Nurses' and Physicians’ Proficiency in Ante-Post Mortem Changes: A Comprehensive Evaluation

Abstract

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the knowledge levels of intensive care nurses and physicians regarding the natural and unnatural changes that occur before and after death. Materials and Methods:. This descriptive study was conducted from March-May 2024, in the intensive care units of three hospitals in northern Türkiye. The participants included healthcare professionals from these units. Data were collected through a 32-question questionnaire developed by the researchers, based on a literature review. Results: The study found that 78.4% of the participants were female, and 93.3% were nurses. On average, the participants reported encountering 4.9 ± 0.2 deaths per month. In the questionnaire, the highest correct answer rate (81.35%) was observed for questions related to brain death, while the lowest correct answer rate (45.95%) was for questions about post-mortem changes. Conclusion: Correctly interpreting the changes that occur before and after death requires both knowledge and experience. Understanding these changes is critical to medical, legal and ethical decision-making processes. In order to improve the quality of care, basic education programs for health professionals need to be updated. It is important that these trainings are integrated into continuous professional development programs with an interdisciplinary approach and based on current scientific evidence.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

There is no funding

Ethical Statement

Ethics committee approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of XXX University Hospital (Date:21/02/2024, Issue No:02).

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

ICU Nursing

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

August 30, 2025

Submission Date

March 24, 2025

Acceptance Date

June 19, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 14 Number: 2

APA
Özkan, E., & Aydoğdu, H. İ. (2025). Assessing Intensive Care Nurses’ and Physicians’ Proficiency in Ante-Post Mortem Changes: A Comprehensive Evaluation. Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 14(2), 418-425. https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1664035
AMA
1.Özkan E, Aydoğdu Hİ. Assessing Intensive Care Nurses’ and Physicians’ Proficiency in Ante-Post Mortem Changes: A Comprehensive Evaluation. BAUN Health Sci J. 2025;14(2):418-425. doi:10.53424/balikesirsbd.1664035
Chicago
Özkan, Esra, and Halil İlhan Aydoğdu. 2025. “Assessing Intensive Care Nurses’ and Physicians’ Proficiency in Ante-Post Mortem Changes: A Comprehensive Evaluation”. Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 14 (2): 418-25. https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1664035.
EndNote
Özkan E, Aydoğdu Hİ (August 1, 2025) Assessing Intensive Care Nurses’ and Physicians’ Proficiency in Ante-Post Mortem Changes: A Comprehensive Evaluation. Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 14 2 418–425.
IEEE
[1]E. Özkan and H. İ. Aydoğdu, “Assessing Intensive Care Nurses’ and Physicians’ Proficiency in Ante-Post Mortem Changes: A Comprehensive Evaluation”, BAUN Health Sci J, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 418–425, Aug. 2025, doi: 10.53424/balikesirsbd.1664035.
ISNAD
Özkan, Esra - Aydoğdu, Halil İlhan. “Assessing Intensive Care Nurses’ and Physicians’ Proficiency in Ante-Post Mortem Changes: A Comprehensive Evaluation”. Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 14/2 (August 1, 2025): 418-425. https://doi.org/10.53424/balikesirsbd.1664035.
JAMA
1.Özkan E, Aydoğdu Hİ. Assessing Intensive Care Nurses’ and Physicians’ Proficiency in Ante-Post Mortem Changes: A Comprehensive Evaluation. BAUN Health Sci J. 2025;14:418–425.
MLA
Özkan, Esra, and Halil İlhan Aydoğdu. “Assessing Intensive Care Nurses’ and Physicians’ Proficiency in Ante-Post Mortem Changes: A Comprehensive Evaluation”. Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, vol. 14, no. 2, Aug. 2025, pp. 418-25, doi:10.53424/balikesirsbd.1664035.
Vancouver
1.Esra Özkan, Halil İlhan Aydoğdu. Assessing Intensive Care Nurses’ and Physicians’ Proficiency in Ante-Post Mortem Changes: A Comprehensive Evaluation. BAUN Health Sci J. 2025 Aug. 1;14(2):418-25. doi:10.53424/balikesirsbd.1664035

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