Nurses' Perception toward Palliative Care for Cancer Patients

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Psychiatric, Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Ain Shams University

2 B.Sc. Nursing

Abstract

Aim of the study: A study aimed to assess nurses' perception and knowledge toward
palliative care for cancer patient. Research design: Descriptive design was used to conduct this
study. Subject: The subject of this study was convenient sample composed of 200 nurses who
have not exposed to palliative patient were excluded from study and data was gathered over a 6
months period started from January month until June, 2017 Settings The study was conducted on
200 nurses working in the departments of cancer units in Radiation Oncology & Nuclear
Medicine Center in Ain Shams University. Tools: 1-Interviewing Questionnaire: It composed of
two parts A-: part one, Socio demographic interviewing sheet; it includes data such as age,
gender, marital status and qualification. B- Part two, it related nurses related clinical
characteristics such as department and years of experience and attended training courses.2-
knowledge scale: It concerned with nurses knowledge regarding nurses' palliative care for cancer
patient 3- Perception scale: It was used to assess nurse‟s perception toward palliative patients.
results: the sixty four of the studied nurses have unsatisfactory knowledge regarding palliative
care; the thirty six of them have satisfactory knowledge regarding palliative care. The sixty seven
and half of the studied nurses have negative perception regarding palliative care, the thirty two
and half of them have positive perception regarding palliative care. Recommendations: by field
palliative care needs to become an integral part of all nursing school curriculum as well as
continuing nursing and medical education program offerings. Implementing an educational
training program for nurses regarding palliative car. More health education about palliative care
be provided to, the community, and individuals with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Keywords