Knowledge and Attitude of Nurses toward Geriatric Palliative Care

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Eygpt

2 Assistant Professor of Gerontological Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Mansoura University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Palliative care is a vital and imperative need designed to relieve suffering and improve the quality
of life for elderly patients. One of the key elements influencing the success of palliative care is the knowledge and
attitude of the nurses. Aim: Assess knowledge and attitude of nurses towards geriatric palliative care. Method: A
descriptive, cross-sectional study was utilized with a convenient sample of 275 nurses. Setting: This study was
conducted in medical and surgical departments in Oncology Center and Specialized Medical Hospital that both are
affiliated to Mansoura University. Tools: Three tools were used, demographic data structured interview questionnaire,
Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing and Frommelt Attitude toward the Care of the Dying (form B). Results: The mean age
of the studied nurses was 33.5 ±5.9 years. Females were more prevalent in the studied nurses, less than half of them had
technical degree. Majority of them cared of a dying elderly person before. Less than half of them attended courses about
elderly care while only (6.9%) of them attended training program on palliative care. Conclusion: More than half of
studied nurses had fair knowledge and most of them had positive attitude towards geriatric palliative care and a statistical
positive correlation was found between nurses' knowledge and their attitude towards geriatric palliative care.
Recommendations: Simple geriatric palliative care booklet should be designed and distributed to all nurses at Mansoura
University Hospitals and Centers through responsible personnel.

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