Effect of Palliative Care Education on Pediatric Nursing Student’s Performance Regarding Care of Children with Cancer: An End of Life Simulation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistance Professor of Pediatric Nursing /Faculty of Nursing/Benha University

2 Lecturer of Pediatric Nursing /Faculty of Nursing / Benha University

Abstract

Background: Palliative care education and experience are essential to student competence in delivering high-quality palliative nursing care. Simulation has been linked to acquire clinical competency among student’s performance during end-of-life simulations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of palliative care education on pediatric nursing student’s performance regarding care of children with cancer: An end-of-life simulation. Study design was quasi-experimental with pre / post-intervention (Study group and Control group) Sample: Systematic random sample of 226 pediatric nursing students from Pediatric Nursing Department. Tool (1): A structured interviewing questionnaire sheet: It included three parts: Part (I): Concerned with personal characteristics of the studied students. Part (II): Pediatric nursing student's knowledge. Part (III): Palliative care knowledge quiz examination. Tool (2): Likert scale: Attitude of pediatric nursing students toward palliative care for children with cancer. Tool (3): An observational checklists: used to assess student's practices regarding care of children in end life stage. Tool (4): Acceptability Scale for student nurse palliative care simulation. Result: There are a highly statistically significant difference (P-value <0.001) between study and control group at the pre/post implementation of palliative education concerning their total knowledge, attitude and practice score. Conclusion: It concluded that implementation of palliative care education is a highly effective method to improve pediatric nursing student’s knowledge, attitude and practice. Recommendations: Application of standardized simulation concerning palliative care for children with chronic disease for more reality situation and improvement students' quality of palliative care.

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