Assess Nurses’ Knowledge and Practices Towards Palliative Care

Background: Palliative care provides a holistic approach to managing serious illness by addressing the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families to improve their quality of life and relieve suffering. Nurses play a vital role in this process by delivering direct patient care, managing symptoms, and serving as an important resource for families. This study examined the palliative care knowledge and practices of Jeddah's King Fahad Armed Forces Hospital (KFAFH) inpatient nurses.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted, and the study was conducted between April and May 2024. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 236 inpatient nurses from various hospital departments. Data were obtained using a standardized, self-administered questionnaire that included sociodemographic items, the Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing (PCQN), and an 11-item practice assessment. Knowledge ratings were good, moderate, and poor, while practice scores were favorable or unfavorable. Population, knowledge, and practice were summarized by descriptive statistics. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between categorical variables.

Results: Most participants were female (n=229, 97.0%) and under 35 years old, with less than five years of clinical experience. The understanding ratings indicated a low level of palliative care knowledge, particularly regarding pain management, opioid use, and psychosocial factors. Most nurses reported early palliative conversations, family engagement in decision-making, and holistic cultural and spiritual care. Demographic factors did not significantly affect knowledge or practice scores.

Conclusion: Findings indicate a marked gap between nurses’ knowledge and their reported practices in palliative care. Comprehensive in-service training, focused educational interventions, and the integration of palliative care into nursing curricula are essential to hospital-based care and ensure the delivery of evidence-based practice.