Palliative care in Lebanon: knowledge, attitudes and practices.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of palliative care nurses in Lebanon.


METHODS
Cross-sectional descriptive survey using self-administered questionnaire; 1873 nurses from 15 hospitals were included.


RESULTS
Non-clinical nurses had better knowledge on the outcomes of palliative care than all other specialties. Oncology nurses had more favourable attitudes than other specialties with regard to informing patients about their diagnosis, patients having the right to 'do-not-resuscitate', involving patients in treatment choices, and respecting their wishes for alternative therapy. Surgical, acute critical care, and obstetric/gynaecology nurses had significantly more negative attitudes towards patients' and families' questions and concerns than other specialties.


CONCLUSIONS
Formal education in palliative care and development of palliative care services are needed in Lebanon to provide quality care to terminally ill patients.
Abu-Saad Huijer
Huda
H
School of Nursing, American University of Beirut, Lebanon. huda.huijer@aub.edu.lb
Abboud
Sarah
S
Dimassi
Hani
H
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004506:Education, Nursing; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D018579:Patient Selection; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires