Knowledge and attitude of university nursing students towards forensic nursing and their influencing factors: a mixed-methods study

Background Forensic nursing, which merges healthcare and legal expertise to address trauma and violence, is vital yet often underrepresented in nursing education. Many nursing students lack knowledge in this field, underscoring the need for enhanced education to improve patient care and legal outcomes. This study aimed to assess university nursing students' knowledge and attitudes towards forensic nursing, as well as identify factors influencing their knowledge. A mixed-methods design was conducted at a Saudi nursing college with a convenience sample of 250 students. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising two parts. The quantitative part included demographic and academic characteristics, knowledge and opinions on forensic nursing, knowledge of forensic evidence, and attitudes towards forensic nursing. The qualitative part consisted of four open-ended questions about factors affecting forensic knowledge. Data analysis involved inferential statistics and content analysis. Results The study revealed that 80.4% of nursing students lacked prior knowledge of forensic nursing, and only 59.76% had some awareness of forensic evidence. A strong positive relationship was found between attitudes towards forensic nursing and knowledge of forensic evidence (r = 0.817, p < 0.001), indicating that positive attitudes could predict 66.8% of the variance in forensic evidence knowledge. Key barriers included lack of support from upper management, insufficient resources, and concerns about faculty qualifications. Students recommended integrating forensic nursing into the curriculum, offering specialized programs, and promoting research and social media awareness campaigns. Conclusions These findings underscore significant gaps in knowledge and misconceptions about forensic nursing among participants, emphasizing the critical need for education and awareness in this field. The study highlights the potential implications for integrating forensic nursing concepts into undergraduate curricula, enhancing faculty training, and utilizing diverse teaching modalities. Addressing these gaps will not only improve future nurses' competency in forensic nursing, but also contribute to better patient care.