Factors influencing nurses' attitudes towards caring for dying patients in oncology settings in the Western Cape Metropole

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The National Cancer Association of South Africa estimates that over 80,000 ofSouth Africans currently die from cancer each year, whilst statistics show anincrease in newly diagnosed cancer cases. Despite an improvement in curerates, cancer, because of its association with pain, suffering and death, stillaffects human beings in their totality. It has been demonstrated that effectivepsychosocial care, as provided by oncology nurses, improve the outcomes forcancer patients. Therefore, nurses' attitudes towards caring for patients that aredying are of vital importance to the quality of care provided to these patients.Attitudes towards caring for patients that are dying may be influenced by thedemographic factors of oncology nurses, such as age, workplace and years ofexperience in oncology. It may also depend on the degree of work satisfactionand by the nature of the work environment, particularly regarding the level ofsupport being offered to the nurse. The purpose of this study hence was toexplore the influences of demographic and work environment factors on nurses'attitudes towards caring for patients that are dying in oncology settings in theWestern Cape Metropole. The objectives of this study were to determineoncology nurses' attitudes towards caring for patients that are dying, todetermine the degree of work satisfaction experienced by these nurses, todetermine the perceived supportive nature of their work environments, and toestablish and examine any relationships between oncology nurses' attitudestowards caring for patients that are dying and demographic factors, worksatisfaction and a supportive work environment. This study was theoreticallyunderpinned by Paterson and Zderad's (quoted in Praeger, 2002) humanisticnursing theory and Peplau's (quoted in Belcher & Brittian Fish, 2002)interpersonal relations in nursing theory, because of their relevance to palliativecare. A quantitative research approach, with a descriptive design, was selectedto conduct the study. The target population was all the oncology nurses, caringfor patients that are dying in palliative and oncology settings in the WesternCape Metropole. A convenience sample of 127 oncology nurses was selectedin three different, but typical oncology settings, namely a state hospital, a private hospital and three hospices. Data was collected by means of a selfreportingquestionnaire. A pilot study was done, in order to assure the validityand reliability of the data collection instrument. Ethical approval was obtained inadvance from the Ethical Research Committee of the Faculty of HealthSciences of the University of Stellenbosch. Written consent was obtainedbeforehand from the managers of the three oncology settings where theresearch was conducted, as well as from the participants.The main findings of this study were that the majority of the respondentsdisplayed positive attitudes towards caring for patients that are dying. Inaddition, most of the respondents experienced a high degree of worksatisfaction and also regarded their work environments as supportive.Significant relationships were found between positive attitudes towards caringfor patients that are dying and:• hospice settings;• higher age and;• rank of the professional nurse.The overall recommendation that was made was that continuing education in allaspects of palliative care be regarded as an essential strategy in maintainingand further enhancing positive attitudes amongst oncology nurses towardscaring for patients that are dying. In addition, coping strategies needed to bewidely implemented to help oncology nurses cope with their emotions andanxieties.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University