"הֲיֵלְכוּ שְׁנַיִם יַחְדָּו? ידע ועמדות אחיות אונקולוגיות אודות מקצוע הריפוי בעיסוק ושילובו בטיפול פליאטיבי"

Abstract

Background. Palliative care represents a therapeutic approach designed to mitigate suffering and enhance the quality of life for patients and their families. The profession of occupational therapy (OT) plays a distinctive role in palliative care, as underscored by the Israeli National Palliative Program's call for the integration of OTs within the multi-professional team. To effectively realize this integration, team members, including nurses, should enhance their understanding of the potential contributions of OT and foster a positive attitude towards its inclusion in palliative care. This study aims to assess the level of knowledge among oncology nurses, regarding the OT profession, their attitudes regarding its integration into palliative care and the correlation between them. Method. An online 'knowledge and attitude' questionnaire was developed specifically for this study and completed by 89 oncology nurses (all women). Results. The findings revealed that the oncology nurses exhibited a high level of knowledge about the OT profession (M=10.51, SD=2.21, in the range of grades 1-14). Regarding their attitudes, it was observed that they acknowledged the significance of integrating OT into palliative care, though, in practice, they did not act accordingly with this belief. In addition, a positive correlation was found between the cognitive and behavioral dimensions of the position. The study did not uncover significant relationship between the nurses' level of knowledge about OT and their attitudes towards its integration. Conclusions and Recommendations. Despite the oncology nurses' commendable knowledge and positive perception of OT's integration into treatment, their actions in practice did not consistently align with these views. Consequently, fostering increased collaboration between the professions of OT and nursing within palliative care is imperative, with particular focus on education, research, policy, and clinical implementation. Additionally, it is recommended to actively promote and implement the recommendations outlined in the Israeli National Program for Palliative Care concerning the integration of OT as an integral part of the multi-professional team. This concerted effort will not only enhance patient care but also reinforce the efficacy of the palliative care approach.