Critical Care Nurses' Performance and Obstacles towards Palliative Care for Critically Ill Patients

Abstract

Background: Critically ill patients confer significant disease related symptoms. Palliative care focuses on reducing symptoms burden and improving quality of life. Objective: The aim of the current work was to assess critical care nurses' performance and obstacles towards palliative care for critically ill patients. Subjects and Methods: This descriptive exploratory research design study included a total of all available 120 nurses, conducted at the Intensive Care Units of Fayoum University Hospitals. Four tools were used. Tool I: A Self-administered interview questionnaire. Tool II: An observational checklist for nurses' practice regarding palliative care. Tool III: Nurses' attitude regarding palliative care. Tool IV: Nurses' perception of obstacles towards palliative care. Results: Revealed that 56.7% of the studied nurses had unsatisfactory knowledge, 59.2% of studied nurses had satisfactory practice and 61.7% of nurses had positive attitude regarding palliative care. Also, 15.8% of nurses had large obstacle toward palliative care. Conclusion: It could be concluded that more than half of studied nurses had unsatisfactory knowledge, more than half of studied nurses had satisfactory level of practice and about two thirds of studied nurses had positive attitude regarding palliative care. Recommendations: Continuing educational programs are needed to improve knowledge and practice of nurses regarding palliative care.