Palliative care knowledge and self-efficacy: a comparative study between intensive care units and general units...

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Palliative Care Research
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Growing demand for palliative care necessitates skilled healthcare professionals.
• Assessing palliative care knowledge and self-efficacy is crucial for quality end-of-life care.
• Nurses' preparedness in palliative care impacts patient and family outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare palliative care knowledge and self-efficacy between ICU and general ward nurses.
• To identify factors influencing palliative care knowledge and self-efficacy among nurses.
• To inform targeted educational interventions for improving palliative care.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive-comparative cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 nurses (150 ICU, 150 general wards).
• Convenience sampling was used to recruit participants from Kerman University of Medical Sciences affiliated hospitals.
• Palliative Care Knowledge Test (PCKT) and Palliative Care Self-Efficacy Scale (PCSES) were utilized for data collection.

Main Results:

• No significant differences were found in mean scores for palliative care knowledge (P=0.53) or self-efficacy (P=0.98) between ICU and general ward nurses.
• Predictors of palliative care knowledge included history of caring for dying patients, workplace, and work experience.
• Palliative care self-efficacy was influenced by age, prior palliative care training, and knowledge scores.

Conclusions:

• Current palliative care knowledge and self-efficacy levels are comparable between ICU and general ward nurses.
• Targeted educational strategies are needed to enhance palliative care competencies for all nurses.
• Special attention should be given to improving ICU nurses' palliative care knowledge and self-efficacy to ensure standardized care.