Nurses' Perception of Caring and Attitudes toward Caring for Dying Patients: Exploring the Relationship Using a...

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Palliative Care
• End-of-Life Care

Background:

• Nurses' perceptions of caring are crucial for effective end-of-life care.
• Understanding factors influencing attitudes toward caring for dying patients is essential for improving patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between nurses' perception of caring and their attitudes toward caring for dying patients.
• To identify key factors, such as training and specific caring dimensions, that influence these attitudes.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive cross-sectional study involving 303 Spanish nurses.
• Data collected via self-reported questionnaires including the Caring Dimension Inventory (CDI-25) and Frommelt Attitudes Toward Care of the Dying scale.
• Statistical analysis using Stata 16.0 to identify significant associations.

Main Results:

• Nurses with palliative care training reported significantly higher positive attitudes toward caring for dying patients.
• Higher scores on the psychosocial and technical dimensions of the CDI-25 were associated with more favorable attitudes.
• Multivariate analysis confirmed palliative care training and the psychosocial dimension of caring as key predictors.

Conclusions:

• Nurses generally exhibit positive attitudes toward caring for dying patients.
• Palliative care training and a strong psychosocial perception of caring are vital for enhancing nurses' attitudes in end-of-life care.
• Findings can inform nursing directors in staff selection and targeted training development for optimal end-of-life care provision.