Nurses’ knowledge about palliative care and attitude towards end- of-life care in public hospitals in Wollega zones: A multicenter cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Palliative care is nowadays essential in nursing care, due to the increasing number of patients who require attention in the final stages of their life. Lack of knowledge of and negative attitude palliative care among nurses is one of the most common barriers to quality palliative care. This study, therefore, aimed to assess nurses' knowledge about palliative care and attitude toward end-of-life care in public hospitals in Wollega zones, Ethiopia. Methods A multicenter institutional-based cross-sectional study design was employed to collect data from 372 nurses working in public hospitals in Wollega zones from October 02-22, 2019. A self-administered questionnaire with three different parts: Demographic characteristics of nurses, the Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing (PCQN), and the Frommelt Attitudes Towards Care of the Dying (FATCOD). SPSS version 21 was used for analysis used for data analysis. The binary logistic regression test was used for analysis at p < 0.05. Findings Our final sample size was 422 nurses (response rate = 88%). With the mean total PCQN scores (9.34), the majority of them showed an inadequate level of knowledge about palliative care. The mean total FATCOD scores (79.58) displayed a positive attitude toward endof-life care, with 52% of respondents eager to care for a dying person and their family. Nurses who had PC service experience [AOR = 1.94 CI (1.10-3.42), p = 0.02] and had ever attended training/lecture on PC [AOR = 1.87 CI (1.01-3.46), p = 0.04] were independently associated with nurses' knowledge about PC. Similarly, nurses who had no PC service experience [AOR = 0.41, CI (0.21-0.79), p = 0.008], who read articles/brochures about PC

A Scoping Review on Palliative Care: Knowledge and Attitude of Nurses

“…The smallest sample consisted of 61 nurses in the study conducted by Wilson et al (9). The largest sample was of 770 nurses in the study by the studies were conducted in various geographical locations, including China, Ethiopia Etafa [4]; Zeru [10], Canada Schnell [13], Iran Paknejadi [8], South Korea S Kim [14], Saudi Arabia Aboshaiqah [11], Mongolia J Kim [7], Ireland Wilson [9], Nigeria Ajisergiri [3], Etnam Vu; Abate et al [16]; Vi et al [17].…”

“…The most frequently used tool was the 20-item Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing (PCQN), which assesses nurses' knowledge about PC Wilson [9]; Schnell [13]; Aboshaiqah [11]; Ajisegiri [3]; Paknejadi [8]; Etafa [4]; J Kim [7]; S Kim [14]; Zeru [10]. The PCQN evaluates knowledge in three domains: the philosophy and principles of PC (four items); management of pain and other symptoms (13 items); provision of psychosocial and spiritual care (three items).…”

“…It tests knowledge in five areas: gastrointestinal issues (four items), psychiatric issues (four items), dyspnea (four items), pain (six items), and PC philosophy (two items). The End-of-Life Knowledge Assessment for nurses was used in one study, it is a 24-item tool measure the 'end of life care' knowledge of nurses Abate [16] Regarding the attitudes of nurses toward PC, the Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying (FATCOD) 30-item scale was the most commonly utilized Wang [15]; Abate [16]; Ajisegiri [3]; Vu [17]; Etafa [4]; Kim [7]; Kim [14]; Zeru [10]. FATCOD assesses feelings, thoughts, and attitudes about PC and comfort levels in practicing PC.…”

“…Palliative care (PC) is a holistic medical approach that aims to improve the quality of life of people with chronic, terminal, or life-limiting diseases WHO [1]. This care approach primarily acts by applying prevention strategies and offering relief from suffering through early assessment and identification, while offering treatment for pain and other problems to include spiritual, psychosocial, and physical problems Ajisegiri [3]; Etafa [4].…”

“…Despite this fact, nurses often feel unprepared to offer PC Etafa [4]; Aboshaiqah [11]; J Kim [7]; Schnell H [13]; S Kim [14]; Ajisegiri [3]. Lack of knowledge, positive attitude, and practical skills among nurses was identified as a common barrier to providing the optimal level of PC.…”