Educational Guidelines for Caregivers of Cancer Patients toward Palliative Care

Document Type : Scientific peer reviewed journal

Authors

1 Ph.D. student of Public Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing – Benha University, Egypt

2 Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing – Benha University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Palliative care is a specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness such as cancer. Aim of study: Was to evaluate the effect of educational guidelines on caregivers of cancer patients toward palliative care. Research design: A quasi – experimental research design was utilized in carrying out this study. Setting: This study was conducted at the Oncology Center at Nasser Institute Hospital Affiliated to Ministry of Health. Sample: A simple random sample was used to select 140 patients according to inclusion criteria from total 1400. Tools of data collection: Data were collected by using three tools. I: An interviewing questionnaire to assess the socio demographic characteristics of the studied patients, the medical history of patients, the socio demographic characteristics of caregivers, and the caregivers' knowledge about cancer and palliative care. II: Likert scale designed to assess the studied caregivers' attitude toward palliative care and III: Practices assessment sheet designed to assess the caregivers' practices toward palliative care. Results: 35.7% of the caregivers had good total knowledge regarding cancer before the educational guidelines implementation which increased to 62.2% after the educational guidelines implementation, 30.0% of them had good total level of knowledge regarding palliative care before the educational guidelines implementation which increased to 63.6% after the educational guidelines implementation, 25.0% of them had positive total level of attitude regarding palliative care before the educational guidelines implementation which increased to 70.0% after the educational guidelines implementation, and 35.7% of them had satisfactory total level of practices regarding palliative care before the educational guidelines implementation which increased to 77.1% after the educational guidelines implementation. Conclusion: The educational guidelines succeeded in improving the studied caregivers' knowledge, reported practices, and attitude regarding palliative care. Recommendations: Provide training courses for caregivers regarding palliative care

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