Home Healthc Now. 2024;42(3):168-178. doi: 10.1097/NHH.0000000000001255. Epub 2024 May 6.
Palliative Care (PC) is an interdisciplinary specialty focused on relieving symptoms and optimizing quality of life for people living with serious illnesses and their families. A great need for PC exists in Saudi Arabia due to its aging population and prevalence of cancer and other chronic diseases. Home healthcare can make PC more accessible to patients, but clinicians must be equipped with the PC knowledge and skills to perform their roles. This study was a descriptive, correlational examination of PC practices and knowledge of home care nurses recruited from military hospitals in Saudi Arabia. We surveyed participants using the Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing (PCQN) and the Modified Global Home Health Nursing Care Assessment Questionnaire. The mean PCQN score was 8.40, indicating low levels of PC knowledge. A nurses' demographic and physical, spiritual, religious, cultural, linguistic, ethical, and legal aspects of care revealed significant associations. Given the low levels of PC knowledge and skills, we recommend focusing on education, training, and research. Universities should review their curriculum to ensure PC content. Hospitals should provide training programs focused on all aspects of PC, specifically emotional and spiritual, without limiting training to physical aspects of care. Future research is also needed to inform policy in this area.
缓和医疗（PC）是一门跨学科的专业，专注于缓解患有严重疾病的患者及其家属的症状，优化生活质量。由于沙特阿拉伯人口老龄化以及癌症和其他慢性病的高发，对 PC 的需求很大。家庭医疗保健可以使 PC 更容易为患者提供服务，但临床医生必须具备 PC 知识和技能才能发挥其作用。本研究对从沙特阿拉伯军事医院招募的家庭护理护士的 PC 实践和知识进行了描述性、相关性研究。我们使用缓和护理护理知识问卷（PCQN）和改良全球家庭健康护理评估问卷对参与者进行了调查。PCQN 的平均得分为 8.40，表明 PC 知识水平较低。护士的人口统计学和身体、精神、宗教、文化、语言、伦理和法律护理方面显示出显著的相关性。鉴于 PC 知识和技能水平较低，我们建议重点关注教育、培训和研究。大学应审查其课程，以确保包含 PC 内容。医院应提供培训计划，重点关注 PC 的所有方面，特别是情感和精神方面，而不仅仅是身体护理方面的培训。还需要开展未来的研究，为该领域的政策提供信息。
