Surgical nurses’ attitudes towards caring for patients dying of cancer - a pilot study of an educational intervention on existential issues

Abstract

This is a randomised controlled pilot study using a mixed methods design. The overall aim was to test an educational intervention on existential issues and to describe surgical nurses' perceived attitudes towards caring for patients dying of cancer. Specific aims were to examine whether the educational intervention consisting of lectures and reflective discussions, affects nurses' perceived confidence in communication and to explore nurses' experiences and reflections on existential issues after participating in the intervention. Forty-two nurses from three surgical wards at one hospital were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Nurses in both groups completed a questionnaire at equivalent time intervals: at baseline before the educational intervention, directly after the intervention, and 3 and 6 months later. Eleven face-to-face interviews were conducted with nurses directly after the intervention and 6 months later. Significant short-term and long-term changes were reported. Main results concerned the significant long-term effects regarding nurses' increased confidence and decreased powerlessness in communication, and their increased feelings of value when caring for a dying patient. In addition, nurses described enhanced awareness and increased reflection. Results indicate that an understanding of the patient's situation, derived from enhanced awareness and increased reflection, precedes changes in attitudes towards communication.

The effects of Nurses' Empathy Skills on Attitudes towards Patients with Cancer

“…In the data by Dedeli et al, working years and high number of cancer patients exposed were associated with high ATCS scores [14]. Similar with our results, Udo et al showed the importance of educational sessions in improving nurses' attitudes while caring cancer patients [15]. Kav et al conducted a study in a school of nursing [17].…”

“…It was found that nurses' positive attitudes towards cancer and patients with cancer are affected by older age, more years of nursing practice and giving care for patients with cancer. In addition, understanding of the patient's situation, derived from enhanced awareness and increased reflection, precedes changes in attitudes towards cancer patients and positive attitudes can be obtained by educational intervention [14,15]. The nurses are also aware of the importance of positive effects of positive attitudes towards patients and agree on the necessity of educational programs and supportive strategies to alleviate fears and promote a more positive image towards cancer [16,17].…”

Development of an existential support training program for healthcare professionals

“…Therefore, the intervention was tested on a smaller scale in a surgery clinic at a county hospital (Udo et al, 2014). Some 42 nurses from three surgical wards were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group.…”

Occupational stress, survivorship issues and key themes in this issue: occupational stress, survivorship interventions, cancer in Chinese populations

“…Udo et al . (; pp. 426–440) explore nurses' attitudes towards dying, the existential issues that can arise from staff/patient interaction, and educational interventions which might impact on these existential issues.…”

“…441-449) explore the experiences of student nurses in caring for cancer patients; they describe the impact of these experiences on trainees in their formative years. Udo et al (2014;pp. 426-440) explore nurses' attitudes towards dying, the existential issues that can arise from staff/patient interaction, and educational interventions which might impact on these existential issues.…”