Korean J Hosp Palliat Care.  2020 Sep;23(3):139-150. 10.14475/kjhpc.2020.23.3.139.

Factors Affecting the End-of Life Care Competency of Tertiary Hospital Nurses

• Jeong DI
• Eun Y

• KMID: 2506080
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14475/kjhpc.2020.23.3.139

Abstract

Purpose
The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of end-of-life care competency; knowledge, attitudes, and experiences regarding advance directives; perceptions of good death; and end-of-life care obstacles and supportive behaviors among tertiary care nurses.
Methods
The participants were 150 nurses at a tertiary hospital in Jinju, Korea. The data collected using a questionnaire were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression in SPSS for Windows version 24.0.
Results
The mean (±SD) score of end-of-life care competency was 3.63 (±0.53) on a 5-point scale. A significant difference in end-of-life care competency was found according to whether nurses had experienced the death of a family member or acquaintance (P=0.029). According to stepwise multiple regression analysis, the factors affecting end-of-life care competency were the frequency of end-of-life care supportive behaviors (β=0.38, P＜0.001), experience with advance directives (β=0.29, P＜0.001), and marriage (β=0.15, P=0.039). This model had an explanatory power of 27.9% (F=18.87, P ＜0.001).
Conclusion
In order to improve nurses’ end-of-life care competency, it is im-portant to strengthen end-of-life care supportive behaviors by exposing nurses to those behaviors and providing frequent experience with advance directives.

Keyword

Nurses; Terminal care; Advance directives; Death