title: Nurses versus physicians' knowledge, attitude, and performance on care for the family members of dying patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nurses and physicians must be competent enough to provide care for the clients. As a lack of knowledge and a poor attitude result in a low performance of delivering care, this study aimed to explore the nurses versus physicians' knowledge, attitude, and performance on care for the family members of dying patients (FMDPs).
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study was conducted at the educational hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. The samples were 110 nurses and 110 physicians. The data were collected through a convenience sampling method and using a valid and reliable questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average knowledge, attitude, and performance on care for the FMDPs were not significantly different between nurses and physicians (p>0.05). The majority of nurses (55.4%) and physician (63.6%) were at a moderate and a fair level of knowledge of care for the FMDPs. Most of the nurses (81%) and physicians (87.3%) had a positive attitude towards caring the FMDPs. Most of the nurses (70%) and physicians (86.3%) had a moderate and fair performance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having enough knowledge and skills, and a positive attitude are necessary for caring the FMDPs. Nurses' and physicians' competencies must be improved through continuing educational programs and holding international and national conferences with a focus on the palliative care.
authors.affiliation: Nursing and Midwifery School, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
authors.forename: Abdolghani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdollahimohammad
authors.affiliation: Nursing and Midwifery School, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammadreza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Firouzkouhi
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Guilan, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amrollahimishvan
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrollah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alimohammadi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004645:Empathy; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D009726:Nurses; D010166:Palliative Care; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D010820:Physicians; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care
keywords: Family; Nurses; Palliative care; Terminally ill patients
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