title: Self-reported practice, confidence, and knowledge about palliative care of nurses in a Japanese Regional Cancer Center: longitudinal study after 1-year activity of palliative care team.
abstract: Knowledge and skill deficits about palliative care in medical professionals are among the most common barriers to quality palliative care. This study in a Japanese regional cancer center was conducted to clarify nurses' self-reported practices, confidence, and knowledge, and the changes in these parameters after the 1-year educational and clinical activity of a palliative care team. Questionnaires were distributed to 134 nurses before and after a palliative care team conducted 6-topic educational programs and clinical consultation activity throughout the year. The nurses were asked to report their practices, confidence, and knowledge about palliative care in 5 fields (pain, dyspnea, delirium, communication, and dying-phase). In some areas of palliative care, hospital nurses did not adhere to recommended practices, had knowledge deficits, and were not generally confident with palliative care practices. However, daily palliative care team activities, including educational programs and clinical consultation service, could improve their practice and knowledge levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Palliative Care Team, Seirei Mikatahara General Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan. tmorita@sis.seirei.or.jp
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Chizuru
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imura
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nanba
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fukumoto
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoh
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006752:Hospital Planning; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management