title: Knowledge of rural nurses' aides about end-of-life care.
abstract: Currently, little is known about the role of nurses' aides (NAs) in rural long-term care facilities or their impact on the process of death and dying in rural healthcare environments. Focus groups with NAs were held in 6 rural counties located in 5 states to assess attitudes and perceptions about end-of-life care and training needs. Key informants from 8 states and the District of Columbia added to the understandings. Nurses' aides (N = 63) and key informants (N = 21) worked in a variety of rural settings that provide end-of-life care (ie, nursing homes, hospitals, hospices, home healthcare agencies). Five themes about the needs of rural NAs around end-of-life care were identified in the focus groups, and 4 themes emerged from key informant interviews. A prototype computer-based training module on communication about end-of-life issues was developed, tested, and found useful and compelling.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Denham
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rathbun
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Toborg
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thornton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009728:Nursing Assistants; D012424:Rural Population; D013727:Terminal Care; D014481:United States