Factors Associated with Person-Centered Care among Hospice Nurses

Abstract

Purpose 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. Methods 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. Results 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%. Conclusion 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.

Clinical Experience of Nurses in a Consultative Hospice Palliative Care Service

“…Conversely, inpatient hospice nurses without personal bereavement experiences struggled to grasp the concepts of end-of-life and bereavement loss, finding it challenging to empathize with the pain and grief of patients and their families [ 18 ]. Empathy is a critical factor that enables inpatient hospice nurses to deliver person-centered care [ 20 ]. By deepening their empathy, they can better comprehend the grief of families preparing for death and play a pivotal role in helping patients maintain their dignity until life’s end [ 18 ].…”

Development and Evaluation of a Hospice and Palliative Care Music Therapy Education Program

“…First, in terms of content, the course provided inclusive education, encompassing both the theory and practice of hospice music therapy. In order to improve the quality of education and to enhance practical performance and confidence, it is necessary to have both a theory-based curriculum and practical training ( 13 ).…”

“…Furthermore, by undermining patients’ expectations and beliefs, it is also possible to threaten the development of hospice music therapy overall ( 12 ). To minimize the risk of such negative effects, interventions should mainly be provided by skilled hospice palliative care professionals, who should receive both theoretical and practical education as part of their training ( 13 ). Therefore, in order to systematically train and place professional hospice music therapists in appropriate positions, it is necessary to provide a curriculum that contains transparent competency criteria, which are essential in the clinical setting, and clear guidelines for effective music therapy interventions.…”