Correlates and Demographic Differences on Nurses’ Awareness and Preparedness on Palliative Care to End-of-Life Care Practices: Basis for an Intervention Program

Abstract

Studies have shown that the Philippines has less emphasis on supplying quality palliative care and that end-of-life care is inadequate and limited.  This study explored the relationship and demographic differences in awareness, and preparedness on palliative care and practices towards end-of-life care among hospital nurses.  The descriptive-correlation design was utilized in this study.  Respondents were 381 hospital nurses from 17 different hospitals from eight different regions.  A conceptualized self-constructed questionnaire from literature was developed and used in gathering the data. Results of the analysis showed that nurses have very high (M=3.50, SD=0.33) awareness but only have a high (M=3.47, SD=0.34) level of preparedness in palliative care.  Whereas, end-of-life care practices as to psycho-spiritual (M=3.92, SD=0.50), socio-cultural (M=4.11, SD=0.56), physical (M=4.44, SD=4.44), and coordination (M=4.35, SD=0.50) are all often practiced.  Correlation analysis revealed that both awareness and preparedness on palliative are positively, and significantly correlated with their end-of-life care practices (p=0.00; p=0.00).  There were no significant differences found in end-of-life care practices considering age, gender, marital status, years of clinical experience, and unit of assignment of the nurses.  Moreover, only preparedness came out as significant predictor of all the dimensions of practices (R2=0.18, p=0.00; R2=0.16, p=0.00; R2=0.12, p=0.00; R2=0.13, p=0.00) It is recommended that a further study that will consider other factors in examining the relationship and differences between the variables be conducted.