Factors Associated with Person-Centered Care among Hospice Nurses

The purpose of this study was to examine person-centered care, nursing professionalism, the nursing work environment, and empathy capacity among hospice ward nurses and to identify the factors affecting person-centered care.

Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire completed by 120 nurses at 30 inpatient hospice institutions in South Korea from August 24, 2020 to September 8, 2020. The independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation analysis were conducted using SPSS version 26.0.

The scores were 3.76±0.45 for person-centered care, 3.58±0.47 for nursing professionalism, 3.24±0.57 for the nursing work environment, and 4.00±0.46 for empathy capacity. There were positive correlations between the variables. Factors that influenced the person-centered care of hospice nurses were being a manager (β=0.20, P=0.002), high nursing professionalism (β=0.20, P=0.012), a better nursing work environment (β=0.15, P=0.033), and high empathy capacity (β=0.51, P<0.001). The explanatory power was 65.3%.

To reinforce the person-centered care competency of hospice nurses, it is necessary to improve nursing professionalism, the nursing work environment, and empathy competency. Opportunities for nurses to practice independently must be expanded for nurses to develop nursing professionalism. Sufficient nursing personnel and material resources must be provided to nurses to cultivate a positive work environment. Empathy should be improved by implementing integrated education programs that include nursing practice situations.