Nurses' Knowledge of Palliative Care at Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Levels of Health Care

1 Ružica Marinić

1 Ana Joka

1,2 Adriano Friganović

1,2 Ana ljubas

2 Valerija korent

1 University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

2 University of Applied Health Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia

3 County Hospital čakovec, čakovec, Croatia

Article received: 03.02.2021.

Article accepted: 24.04.2021.

Author for correspondence:

Ružica Marinić

University Hospital centre Zagreb Kišpatićeva 12, Zagreb, croatia

e-mail: ruzicamarinic93@gmail.com

https://doi.org/10.24141/2/5/1/2

keywords: palliative medicine, palliative care, palliative patient

Abstract

Introduction. Comprehensive care for patients who no longer respond to treatment procedures is called palliative care. palliative medicine does not delay or accelerate death, it promotes life, and considers dy- ing as a normal process. in palliative medicine and care there is no place for hierarchy - teamwork, focus on the patient and respect for his autonomy are what is important.

Aim. The conducted research shows the knowledge of nurses about palliative care at the primary, sec- ondary and tertiary levels of health care.

Methods. prospective research in the republic of croatia at three levels of health care has been con- ducted. The sample included 150 nurses. The instru- ment used in the study was the palliative care Quiz for nursing (pcQn).

Results. The results showed that the nurses’ knowl- edge of palliative care is insufficient among the nurs- ing population. despite numerous training activities conducted over the past ten years, levels of knowl- edge are still lower than expected. nurses at the pri- mary level of health care have far greater knowledge than nurses at secondary and tertiary levels.

Conclusion. results of the study showed the need for quality education with real-life examples in order to achieve higher levels of empathy, spread knowl- edge about palliative care and about the importance of care for palliative patients. it is recommended to increase the number of educational activities in small groups, in the local language, adaptable and under- standable to all health professionals.