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Knowledge and attitude of nursing students regarding pediatric palliative care in a teaching nursing institute
Dinabndhu Barad1, Kalpana Panda2, Soumya Satpathy3
1Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Odisha, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
Insights
Most nursing students possess poor knowledge but positive attitudes towards pediatric palliative care (PPC). Integrating PPC into nursing education is crucial for improving care for children with fatal illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Education
- Palliative Care
- Pediatric Healthcare
Background:
- Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is a comprehensive approach supporting children with life-limiting illnesses and their families.
- The World Health Organization defines PC for children as holistic care for the child's physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding pediatric palliative care (PPC).
- To determine the association between sociodemographic variables and students' knowledge and attitudes toward PPC.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, cross-sectional observational study was conducted at SUM Nursing College, Bhubaneswar.
- Data were collected from November 2022 to October 2023 using questionnaires assessing sociodemographic data, knowledge, and attitudes toward PPC.
- The study included B.Sc., GNM, post-basic B.Sc., and M.Sc. nursing students exposed to pediatric subjects.
Main Results:
- 60.5% of the 223 participants demonstrated poor knowledge of PPC.
- 54.3% of nursing students exhibited positive attitudes toward PPC.
- A significant portion of students had inadequate knowledge despite generally positive attitudes.
Conclusions:
- Nurses are vital in delivering pediatric palliative care, necessitating its inclusion in mandatory nursing curricula.
- Further research is recommended to explore PPC knowledge and attitudes among other healthcare professionals.
Background:
According to the World Health Organization, palliative care (PC) for children involves actively caring for the child's health, mind, and spirit and supporting the family. Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is characterized as a comprehensive strategy for both the child with a fatal illness and his or her family during their tragedy. The study aims to assess nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding PPC and determine the association with selected sociodemographic variables.
Materials And Methods:
This descriptive (cross-sectional observational) study was carried out by SUM Nursing College, Bhubaneswar from November 2022 to October 2023 by using three tools (a self-structured questionnaire on sociodemographic data, a standardized questionnaire on knowledge, and a standardized questionnaire on attitude) to assess the level of knowledge and attitude among study participants toward PPC. Nursing students who have already been exposed to pediatric subjects such as B.Sc. 3rd and 4th year, GNM 2nd and 3rd year, and all nursing students of post basic B.Sc, and M.Sc., were included in the study.
Result:
Based on the investigation, it was discovered that among 223 of the total study sample, 39.5% had good knowledge, and the remaining 60.5% had poor knowledge. In addition, when the attitude of nursing students was analyzed, it was found that 54.3% of the total study sample had positive attitudes, and the remaining 45.7% had negative attitudes toward PPC.
Conclusion:
As nurses play a major role in delivering PPC, it could be included as a mandatory part in their educational curriculum. A similar study can be replicated among other healthcare professionals in several areas regarding PPC.
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