Hospice nurses' perceptions of their patients' physicians

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Palliative Care
• Hospice Nursing

Background:

• Traditional medical education lacks comprehensive training for terminal patient care.
• Hospices offer potential for supplementing medical training in palliative and end-of-life care.
• Integrating hospice principles into medical curricula is crucial for improving care quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess hospice nurses' perceptions of physician strengths and weaknesses in caring for terminally ill patients.
• To identify specific areas where physicians excel or require further development in palliative care.
• To inform strategies for enhancing medical education regarding hospice and palliative care.

Main Methods:

• A survey was administered to 45 home hospice nurses in Colorado.
• Nurses rated physicians on various aspects of care, including medication management, family support, and home visits.
• Statistical analysis (p < .05) was used to identify significant differences in ratings.

Main Results:

• Physicians received high scores for flexibility in ordering laxatives and oral analgesics.
• Physicians received low scores for supporting patient families, knowledge of hospice insurance, and making home visits.
• Physicians in larger communities with a higher percentage of oncologists were rated significantly higher across all measures.

Conclusions:

• Physician performance in palliative care is perceived differently based on clinical practice environment and specialization.
• There is a need to enhance medical education in areas such as family support, hospice insurance knowledge, and home-based palliative care.
• Collaborative efforts between hospices and medical schools are vital for successful implementation of hospice concepts in medical training.