Effect of Supportive Palliative Care Educational Intervention on Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitude towards Palliative Care in Selected Tertiary Hospitals in South East Nigeria
Authors: Agunwah EU, Nworie A, Eze, CU
Journal: Medicine and Public Health Research Journal (MPHRJ), ISSN 1694-4593
Citation: MPHRJ 5(1), 2024-03-20.
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.10843728
PDF: Download full-text PDF
Type: Original Research
Abstract
This study examines the effect of Supportive Palliative Care Educational Intervention on Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitude towards Palliative Care in Selected Tertiary Hospitals in South East Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study aimed to assess and compare nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards palliative care before and after interventions among an experimental group that received educational interventions and a control group that did not. The experimental group, consisting of nurses who received the educational intervention, demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge about palliative care principles, symptom management, communication skills, and psychosocial support. This improvement highlights the positive impact of educational interventions on enhancing nurses' knowledge in palliative care. Furthermore, the study examined the attitudes of nurses towards palliative care in both the experimental and control groups. The experimental group showed a notable improvement in attitudes, including increased empathy, compassion, and a patient-centred approach to end-of-life care. These findings suggest that attitude enhancement programs can positively influence nurses' attitudes towards palliative care. In contrast, the control group, which did not receive interventions, exhibited minimal improvement in knowledge and attitudes towards palliative care. This highlights the importance of targeted interventions and educational programs to enhance nurses' knowledge and attitudes in this specialized area of care. The findings of this study emphasize the significance of investing in educational interventions and attitude enhancement programs for nurses in palliative care. Improving nurses' knowledge and attitudes can lead to enhanced quality of care, better patient outcomes, and increased satisfaction among patients and their families during end-of-life situations. Future research should continue to explore the effectiveness of educational interventions, refine curriculum content, and evaluate the long-term impact of these interventions on nurses' knowledge and attitudes. By prioritizing education and attitude enhancement in palliative care, healthcare organizations can ensure that nurses are well-equipped to provide compassionate, patient-centred care to individuals and families facing end-of-life situations.
Keywords
Supportive Palliative Care, Nurses Knowledge and Attitude, Tertiary Hospitals
Full Text
This study examines the effect of Supportive Palliative Care Educational Intervention on Nurses’ Knowledge and Attitude towards Palliative Care in Selected Tertiary Hospitals in South East Nigeria. The specific objectives of the study aimed to assess and compare nurses' knowledge and attitudes towards palliative care before and after interventions among an experimental group that received educational interventions and a control group that did not. The experimental group, consisting of nurses who received the educational intervention, demonstrated a significant improvement in knowledge about palliative care principles, symptom management, communication skills, and psychosocial support. This improvement highlights the positive impact of educational interventions on enhancing nurses' knowledge in palliative care. Furthermore, the study examined the attitudes of nurses towards palliative care in both the experimental and control groups. The experimental group showed a notable improvement in attitudes, including increased empathy, compassion, and a patient-centred approach to end-of-life care. These findings suggest that attitude enhancement programs can positively influence nurses' attitudes towards palliative care. In contrast, the control group, which did not receive interventions, exhibited minimal improvement in knowledge and attitudes towards palliative care. This highlights the importance of targeted interventions and educational programs to enhance nurses' knowledge and attitudes in this specialized area of care. The findings of this study emphasize the significance of investing in educational interventions and attitude enhancement programs for nurses in palliative care. Improving nurses' knowledge and attitudes can lead to enhanced quality of care, better patient outcomes, and increased satisfaction among patients and their families during end-of-life situations. Future research should continue to explore the effectiveness of educational interventions, refine curriculum content, and evaluate the long-term impact of these interventions on nurses' knowledge and attitudes. By prioritizing education and attitude enhancement in palliative care, healthcare organizations can ensure that nurses are well-equipped to provide compassionate, patient-centred care to individuals and families facing end-of-life situations.