Nurses' professional autonomy and attitudes toward caring for dying patients in South-East Iran

Nurses in Iran have been found to have less professional autonomy than nurses in Western countries. Professional autonomy is important, affecting nurses' caring behaviour and attitudes.

This study aimed to examine the correlation between the professional autonomy of oncology and intensive care unit (ICU) nurses in the south-east of Iran and their attitudes toward the care of dying patients.

155 oncology and ICU nurses in three hospitals supervised by Kerman University of Medical Sciences completed the Frommelt Attitude Toward Care of the Dying (FATCOD) and Pankratz Nursing Questionnaire (PNQ) tools during April-June 2013.

The participants had a neutral to moderately positive mean attitude toward caring for dying patients (mean=3.18±0.37 out of 5) and moderate professional autonomy (mean=3.08±0.33 out of 5). There was a significant positive correlation between total scores on professional autonomy and total scores on attitudes toward caring for dying patients. There was also a significant positive correlation between the PNQ subscale of 'patients' rights' and attitudes toward caring for dying patients.

Autonomy could be an important component of nurses' attitudes toward caring for dying patients. To improve nurses' autonomy, nursing education in end-of-life care in Iran must be improved. Other factors relating to autonomy and attitudes specific to the Iranian context should also be considered.