title: Communicating with patients and their families about palliative and end-of-life care: comfort and educational needs of nurses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Effectively discussing palliative care with patients and families requires knowledge and skill. The purpose of this study was to determine perceived needs of inpatient nurses for communicating with patients and families about palliative and end-of-life (EoL) care.
  
  
  METHODS
  A non-experimental design was used. In total, 60 inpatient nurses from one hospital in Idaho completed the End of Life Professional Caregiver Survey (EPCS), which examines three domains: patient and family-centered communication, cultural and ethical values, and effective care delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The number of years' experience nurses had (F(9,131.57)=2.22, p=0.0246; Wilk's ^=0.709) and the unit they worked on (F(6,110)=2.49, p=0.0269; Wilk's ^=0.775) had a significant effect on their comfort discussing EoL and palliative care with patients and their families. For all three domains, years of nursing experience was positively associated with comfort in communicating about EoL care. Oncology nurses were most comfortable with regard to patient and family-centered communication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The success and sustainability of this service is dependent on education for health-care providers. Studies are needed to determine the most effective ways to meet this educational challenge.
authors: Home Care/Hospice, Care Coordinator, St. Luke's Health System, Boise, Idaho, US.
authors: Cheryl
authors: C
authors: Moir
authors: Renee
authors: R
authors: Roberts
authors: Kim
authors: K
authors: Martz
authors: Judith
authors: J
authors: Perry
authors: Laura J
authors: LJ
authors: Tivis
mesh_terms: D017028:Caregivers; D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010166:Palliative Care; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013727:Terminal Care
keywords: End-of-life Professional Caregiver Survey; End-of-life care; Palliative care; Patient-centered nursing