¶ … led by Venkatesan Prem conducted a research on nurses' knowledge regarding palliative care. This research was influenced by the fact that inadequate knowledge of a palliative care among these professionals is well-documented across various studies on palliative care. The lack of sufficient knowledge by nurses and other health care professionals regarding this health issue is considered as one of the major hindrances in providing high-quality palliative care services. This cross-sectional quantitative research provides important information that may be used in nursing practice through effective measures of enhancing the knowledge of these professionals in providing palliative care.
Summary of the Study:
One of the major obstacles to the provision of high-quality and effective palliative care in the recent past is inadequate knowledge by nurses and other health care practitioners. There are various reasons attributed to the lack of adequate knowledge on the issue such as deficiencies in nursing education, lack of curriculum content about pain management, and absence of content on pain and palliative care (Prem et. al., 2012, p.122). The researchers used palliative care knowledge test to evaluate nurses' knowledge regarding palliative care among nursing practitioners. The study was carried out through a cross-sectional survey of 363 nurses in a multi-specialty health care facility.
The research also used a self-report questionnaire that contained 20 statements regarding palliative care. Each nursing professional had to indicate correct, incorrect, or unsure for each...
These items were classified in 5 sub-categories i.e. philosophy, pain, dyspnea, gastro-intestinal problems, and psychiatric problems. In order to generate appropriate results and conclusions, the researchers used statistical analysis, which involved comparing personal and professional variables. This comparison included the use of one-way ANOVA and correlations by Karl-Pearson's co-efficient.
Based on the results of the survey, the general state of palliative care knowledge was poor though these professionals had more knowledge on psychiatric issues and philosophy than the other elements indicated in the questionnaire. In concurrence with the findings of past studies on this issue, the researchers found that there are inadequacies in knowledge on several aspects associated with palliative care (Valo, 2012, p.23). Some of these aspects include pain management, unfavorable drug incidents, and use of opioid.
Usefulness of the Study in Nursing Practice:
This research provides important insights that could be helpful in transforming nursing practice related to the issue since nurses have inadequate knowledge and misconceptions on palliative care (Qadire, 2014, p.23). The significance of the study is attributed to how its findings can be used for future research and initiatives to enhance nurses' palliative care knowledge. Some of these measures that the study's findings can be used for future research in nursing practice on palliative care include conducting comprehensive information on this issue, training programs, and advice on…
