Assessment of Palliative Care Knowledge Among Registered Nurses: A Prospective Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central India

Shashank Bansal; Prutha Jinwala; Vikas Asati; Sudharani B Banappagoudar; Aditya Elhence; S P Shrivastava; Rajesh Patidar; Pankaj Singhai; Swati Patel; P. G. Chitalkar

doi:10.31557/apjcc.2023.8.4.709-713

Authors

Shashank Bansal Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore-ujjain highway, Indore (M.P.), India.
Prutha Jinwala Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore-ujjain highway, Indore (M.P.), India.
Vikas Asati Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore-ujjain highway, Indore (M.P.), India.
Sudharani B Banappagoudar School of Nursing Sciences, ITM University, Gwalior (MP), India.
Aditya Elhence Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore-ujjain highway, Indore (M.P.), India.
S P Shrivastava Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore-ujjain highway, Indore (M.P.), India.
Rajesh Patidar Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore-ujjain highway, Indore (M.P.), India.
Pankaj Singhai Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore-ujjain highway, Indore (M.P.), India.
Swati Patel Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore-ujjain highway, Indore (M.P.), India.
P. G. Chitalkar Department of Medical Oncology, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore-ujjain highway, Indore (M.P.), India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31557/apjcc.2023.8.4.709-713

Keywords:

Palliative care, Basic knowledge, Nursing, Quality of life

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess palliative care knowledge among registered nurses working in a tertiary care hospital in Madhya Pradesh, India.

Materials and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 160 registered nurses working in various departments at a tertiary care hospital in Madhya Pradesh. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using an online questionnaire for socio-demographic variables and a validated self-report questionnaire to measure palliative care knowledge. Data were analyzed using IBM-SPSSv26.

Results: A total of 160 participants enrolled in the study. Basic palliative care knowledge was relatively high among the sample (83.75%). Knowledge regarding pain management was high for items 1 and 2 (83.43%), but significantly lower for items 3, 4, and 5 (22%). Overall knowledge of pain management was 47%, indicating a need for improvement. The use of morphine was reported by 31.04% of nurses, dyspnea management by 38.33%, and communication of prognosis by 81.56%. Knowledge regarding resuscitation was 46.85%, psycho-spiritual care 24.06%, and bereavement care 69%.

Conclusion: This study highlights a significant gap in palliative care knowledge among registered nurses. Improving the quality of palliative care services provided to patients requires enhancing nurses' knowledge through in-service education and on-the-job retraining.