Nurses versus physicians' knowledge, attitude, and performance on care for the family members of dying patients.
- Author:
Abdolghani ABDOLLAHIMOHAMMAD
1
;
Mohammadreza FIROUZKOUHI
;
Fatemeh AMROLLAHIMISHVAN
;
Nasrollah ALIMOHAMMADI
Author Information
- Publication Type:Comparative Study ; Original Article
- Keywords: Family; Nurses; Palliative care; Terminally ill patients
- MeSH: Adult; *Attitude of Health Personnel; *Attitude to Death; Clinical Competence; Empathy; Family; Female; Humans; Iran; Male; *Nurses; *Palliative Care; Personnel, Hospital; *Physicians; *Professional-Family Relations; Surveys and Questionnaires; *Terminal Care
- From:Korean Journal of Medical Education 2016;28(1):79-85
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: PURPOSE: Nurses and physicians must be competent enough to provide care for the clients. As a lack of knowledge and a poor attitude result in a low performance of delivering care, this study aimed to explore the nurses versus physicians' knowledge, attitude, and performance on care for the family members of dying patients (FMDPs). METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted at the educational hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. The samples were 110 nurses and 110 physicians. The data were collected through a convenience sampling method and using a valid and reliable questionnaire. RESULTS: The average knowledge, attitude, and performance on care for the FMDPs were not significantly different between nurses and physicians (p>0.05). The majority of nurses (55.4%) and physician (63.6%) were at a moderate and a fair level of knowledge of care for the FMDPs. Most of the nurses (81%) and physicians (87.3%) had a positive attitude towards caring the FMDPs. Most of the nurses (70%) and physicians (86.3%) had a moderate and fair performance. CONCLUSION: Having enough knowledge and skills, and a positive attitude are necessary for caring the FMDPs. Nurses' and physicians' competencies must be improved through continuing educational programs and holding international and national conferences with a focus on the palliative care.
