Exploring Palliative Nurses’ Perception of the ELNEC Program in Singapore: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Introduction: The ELNEC international curriculum was developed in 2000 and translated into many different languages for nurses worldwide. Although death is a universal phenomenon, handling death and dying differs across cultures and countries. Limited studies are conducted to explore the impact of ELNEC on nursing practices in Asia. Aim: This study explored palliative nurses' perception of the ELNEC and its impact on their nursing practices in Singapore long-term care setting Methods: An exploratory qualitative design using individual face-to-face interviews was conducted at a community hospital in Singapore between 2018 and 2019. An interview guide comprising four open-ended questions was used to generate participants’ feedback. Results: Three themes were generated from the content analysis: (i) lack of basic and continuing nursing education on death-related subjects; (ii) impact of ELNEC on nurses; and (iii) Perceived educational needs in palliative care. Conclusion: The ELNEC improved death anxiety and attitudes among existing nurses working in a community palliative setting. Specific educational needs were also identified as potential areas for enhancing the ELNEC for the Singapore palliative context. This study has demonstrated the need for ELNEC role within the national nursing curriculum for both nursing students and nurses in Singapore.