Enhancing oncology patient care: nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceived benefits of early palliative integration - a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Palliative care aims to improve quality of life for patients with end-stage illnesses by addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. Early referral to palliative care improves patient outcomes, quality of life and overall survival in a variety type of cancers....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mohammed F. Hayek, Bahaaeddin M. Hammad, Faeda A. Eqtait, Ahmad Ayed, Basma Salameh, Nizar B. Said, Rasha S. Abu Zaitoun, Shurouq G. Qadous
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Palliative Care
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01648-y
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841544210857066496
author Mohammed F. Hayek
Bahaaeddin M. Hammad
Faeda A. Eqtait
Ahmad Ayed
Basma Salameh
Nizar B. Said
Rasha S. Abu Zaitoun
Shurouq G. Qadous
author_facet Mohammed F. Hayek
Bahaaeddin M. Hammad
Faeda A. Eqtait
Ahmad Ayed
Basma Salameh
Nizar B. Said
Rasha S. Abu Zaitoun
Shurouq G. Qadous
author_sort Mohammed F. Hayek
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Palliative care aims to improve quality of life for patients with end-stage illnesses by addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. Early referral to palliative care improves patient outcomes, quality of life and overall survival in a variety type of cancers. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and perceived benefits of early integration of palliative care among oncology nursing. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in public, private, and educational hospitals located in Palestine. Data were collected using paper based self-administered questionnaires from nurses working in hematology, general oncology, and bone marrow transplantation departments. Results Among of 128 nurses, the study revealed a moderate level of knowledge (3.64 ± 0.96), Positive attitude (3.59 ± 1.02) and moderately recognized the perceived benefits of early palliative care (3.57 ± 1.02). A statistically significant difference in nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and perceived benefits of early palliative care based on clinical experience. Pearson’s correlation showed a significant positive relationship between the total knowledge and attitudes score (r = 0.211, p < 0.001), as well as with perceived benefits total score (r = 0.567, p < 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant positive relationship between the total attitude score and perceived benefits score (r = 0.303, p < 0.001). Conclusions These findings suggest that enhancing knowledge and highlighting the benefits of early palliative care integration could foster more favorable attitudes among oncology nurses. investing in education and training to have all nurses prepared to provide high-quality palliative care results in better patient outcomes and less suffering. Patients with advanced cancer should be referred to the palliative care teams at an early stage of treatment in conjunction with their treatment in order to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.
format Article
id doaj-art-b8c12bad368f45819282e0a623826b71
institution Kabale University
issn 1472-684X
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Palliative Care
spelling doaj-art-b8c12bad368f45819282e0a623826b712025-01-12T12:44:28ZengBMCBMC Palliative Care1472-684X2025-01-012411910.1186/s12904-025-01648-yEnhancing oncology patient care: nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceived benefits of early palliative integration - a cross-sectional studyMohammed F. Hayek0Bahaaeddin M. Hammad1Faeda A. Eqtait2Ahmad Ayed3Basma Salameh4Nizar B. Said5Rasha S. Abu Zaitoun6Shurouq G. Qadous7Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An Najah National UniversityFaculty of Nursing, Arab American University PalestineFaculty of Nursing, Arab American University PalestineFaculty of Nursing, Arab American University PalestineFaculty of Nursing, Arab American University PalestineDepartment of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An Najah National UniversityContinuous Education Office, Department of Nursing, An Najah National University HospitalDepartment of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An Najah National UniversityAbstract Background Palliative care aims to improve quality of life for patients with end-stage illnesses by addressing physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. Early referral to palliative care improves patient outcomes, quality of life and overall survival in a variety type of cancers. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and perceived benefits of early integration of palliative care among oncology nursing. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in public, private, and educational hospitals located in Palestine. Data were collected using paper based self-administered questionnaires from nurses working in hematology, general oncology, and bone marrow transplantation departments. Results Among of 128 nurses, the study revealed a moderate level of knowledge (3.64 ± 0.96), Positive attitude (3.59 ± 1.02) and moderately recognized the perceived benefits of early palliative care (3.57 ± 1.02). A statistically significant difference in nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and perceived benefits of early palliative care based on clinical experience. Pearson’s correlation showed a significant positive relationship between the total knowledge and attitudes score (r = 0.211, p < 0.001), as well as with perceived benefits total score (r = 0.567, p < 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant positive relationship between the total attitude score and perceived benefits score (r = 0.303, p < 0.001). Conclusions These findings suggest that enhancing knowledge and highlighting the benefits of early palliative care integration could foster more favorable attitudes among oncology nurses. investing in education and training to have all nurses prepared to provide high-quality palliative care results in better patient outcomes and less suffering. Patients with advanced cancer should be referred to the palliative care teams at an early stage of treatment in conjunction with their treatment in order to improve patient outcomes and quality of life.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01648-yAttitudesEarly IntegrationKnowledgePalliative CareNursesOncology
spellingShingle Mohammed F. Hayek
Bahaaeddin M. Hammad
Faeda A. Eqtait
Ahmad Ayed
Basma Salameh
Nizar B. Said
Rasha S. Abu Zaitoun
Shurouq G. Qadous
Enhancing oncology patient care: nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceived benefits of early palliative integration - a cross-sectional study
BMC Palliative Care
Attitudes
Early Integration
Knowledge
Palliative Care
Nurses
Oncology
title Enhancing oncology patient care: nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceived benefits of early palliative integration - a cross-sectional study
title_full Enhancing oncology patient care: nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceived benefits of early palliative integration - a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Enhancing oncology patient care: nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceived benefits of early palliative integration - a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Enhancing oncology patient care: nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceived benefits of early palliative integration - a cross-sectional study
title_short Enhancing oncology patient care: nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceived benefits of early palliative integration - a cross-sectional study
title_sort enhancing oncology patient care nurses knowledge attitudes and perceived benefits of early palliative integration a cross sectional study
topic Attitudes
Early Integration
Knowledge
Palliative Care
Nurses
Oncology
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01648-y
work_keys_str_mv AT mohammedfhayek enhancingoncologypatientcarenursesknowledgeattitudesandperceivedbenefitsofearlypalliativeintegrationacrosssectionalstudy
AT bahaaeddinmhammad enhancingoncologypatientcarenursesknowledgeattitudesandperceivedbenefitsofearlypalliativeintegrationacrosssectionalstudy
AT faedaaeqtait enhancingoncologypatientcarenursesknowledgeattitudesandperceivedbenefitsofearlypalliativeintegrationacrosssectionalstudy
AT ahmadayed enhancingoncologypatientcarenursesknowledgeattitudesandperceivedbenefitsofearlypalliativeintegrationacrosssectionalstudy
AT basmasalameh enhancingoncologypatientcarenursesknowledgeattitudesandperceivedbenefitsofearlypalliativeintegrationacrosssectionalstudy
AT nizarbsaid enhancingoncologypatientcarenursesknowledgeattitudesandperceivedbenefitsofearlypalliativeintegrationacrosssectionalstudy
AT rashasabuzaitoun enhancingoncologypatientcarenursesknowledgeattitudesandperceivedbenefitsofearlypalliativeintegrationacrosssectionalstudy
AT shurouqgqadous enhancingoncologypatientcarenursesknowledgeattitudesandperceivedbenefitsofearlypalliativeintegrationacrosssectionalstudy