Postgraduate Student, School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Ireland.
Postgraduate Student, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems, University College Dublin, Ireland & Clinical Nurse Specialist, Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services, Dublin, Ireland.
Int J Palliat Nurs. 2021 Jun 2;27(4):195-204. doi: 10.12968/ijpn.2021.27.4.195.
This paper investigates the palliative care competencies (knowledge, behaviours, attitudes) and education needs of nurses and healthcare assistants (HCAs) who provide supportive (Level 2) palliative care.
A mixed-methods study using a sequential exploratory design was used, with findings integrated across sources. Qualitative focus groups were conducted in 2018 with a sample of staff (n=11, all female; nurses=4; HCAs=7) providing supportive palliative care in a single service setting. A quantitative survey, also conducted in 2018, explored the issue with a wider sample within the same setting (n=36; nurses=18; HCAs=18; female=32).
Qualitatively, communication was highlighted as an important domain of the competence framework, with many participants acknowledging that the ability to communicate effectively is essential. Quantitatively, participants scored in the lower range for competency variables. A significant difference was observed between HCAs and nurses on measures of knowledge (t= -2.718; df=30; p<.05) and behaviour (t=-3.576; df=30; p<.05), with HCAs scoring significantly higher than nurses. In relation to education, while some participants report being indecisive regarding engaging in education/training, others highlighted the benefit of education, especially its ability to impact on their current practice.
This research contributes to understanding palliative care competencies among nurses and HCAs working in palliative care, and has important implications for the education and training of nurses and HCAs working in Level 2 palliative care in Ireland.
本研究调查了为提供支持性（二级）姑息治疗的护士和医疗保健助理（HCAs）的姑息治疗能力（知识、行为、态度）和教育需求。
采用混合方法研究，采用顺序探索设计，发现结果在来源之间整合。2018 年，在单一服务环境中，对提供支持性姑息治疗的工作人员（n=11，均为女性；护士=4；HCAs=7）进行了定性焦点小组。2018 年还进行了一项定量调查，在同一环境中以更广泛的样本（n=36；护士=18；HCAs=18；女性=32）探讨了这个问题。
定性研究表明，沟通是能力框架的一个重要领域，许多参与者承认有效沟通的能力是至关重要的。定量研究中，参与者在能力变量上的得分处于较低水平。HCAs 和护士在知识（t=-2.718；df=30；p<.05）和行为（t=-3.576；df=30；p<.05）方面存在显著差异，HCAs 的得分显著高于护士。关于教育，虽然一些参与者报告在参与教育/培训方面犹豫不决，但其他参与者强调了教育的好处，特别是其对当前实践的影响能力。
这项研究有助于了解在姑息治疗环境中工作的护士和 HCAs 的姑息治疗能力，对爱尔兰从事二级姑息治疗的护士和 HCAs 的教育和培训具有重要意义。
