The Association Between Nurses’ Knowledge About Palliative Care and Their Life Satisfaction

Abstract

Background: Nurses frequently encounter terminally ill patients, indicating the need for knowledge about palliative care. Also, their life satisfaction is affected by various factors. Objectives: This study aimed to identify the association between nurses’ knowledge about palliative care and their life satisfaction. Methods: Following a cross-sectional design, 64 volunteer nurses working in various surgery units were studied. Data were collected using the “Socio-demographic Form”, “Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS)”, and the “Palliative Care Knowledge Test (PCKT)”. Results: PCKT total score was 10.09 ± 4.78, and SWLS total score was 19.58 ± 7.02. Also, the pain sub-scale mean score was higher than the philosophy, dyspnea, psychiatric problems, and gastrointestinal problems sub-scale mean scores (P < 0.01). There was a significant association between PCKT and sub-scale total scores (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Nurses’ knowledge about palliative care and its management enables them to control symptoms such as pain and dyspnea successfully.