Abstract
ResumeObjective:to determine the level of knowledge in palliative care of nursing staff at a Spanish tertiary care hospital. Method:descriptive, cross-sectional study. Data were collected about the results of the Spanish version of the Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses (PCQN), sociodemographic aspects, education level and experience in the field of palliative care. Univariate and bivariate descriptive analysis was applied. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 in all cases. Results:159 professionals participated (mean age 39.51 years ± 10.25, with 13.96 years ± 10.79 of professional experience) 54.7% possessed experience in palliative care and 64.2% educational background (mainly basic education). The mean percentage of hits on the quiz was 54%, with statistically significant differences in function of the participants’ education and experience in palliative care. Conclusions:although the participants show sufficient knowledge on palliative care, they would benefit from a specific training program, in function of the mistaken concepts identified through the quiz, which showed to be a useful tool to diagnose professionals’ educational needs in palliative care.
Highlights
Cancer patients have received palliative care, the changes in the social epidemiological patterns have entailed new indications of this care
About 54.7% of the participants indicated palliative care experience, while 64.2% indicated an educational background in that sphere, with an important percentage indicating that they gained this experience during their college education. 42.8%
The professionals at our hospital who answered the Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses (PCQN) show sufficient knowledge about palliative care, with a percentage of hits (PH) of 54%, supposing a score of 10.8 on 20. These results are only superior to the results of a study involving oncology and ICU nurses(19), with a PH of 44.75%, and the results of nursing students in one of the validation studies of the original version of the PCQN(11) with a PH of 46%, and highly similar to the results found in a study undertaken in Florida and involving pediatric nurses(21), with a PH of 51.8%; and the PH obtained in the assessment of the French version of the PCQN, in which the participants worked at different wards and very few had palliative care experience, corresponding to 54.8%(17)
Summary
Cancer patients have received palliative care, the changes in the social epidemiological patterns have entailed new indications of this care. In 2002, WHO defined palliative care as “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual”, further indicating the comprehensive approach, early care and quality of life as the main objectives and guidelines for its development(2-3). Palliative care is considered a part of the health care systems and a fundamental element of citizens’ rights. It should be guided by the patient’s needs, considering his values, preferences, dignity and autonomy(4-5). In Spain, these aspects have been articulated with recommendations for the basic education of all professionals and the development of specific programs that permit intervention at all care levels(4-6)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
