Difficulties in Palliative Care and Relates Factors among Nurses as Consultees for Palliative Care Teams

<p>[ Purpose] The objective of this study was to investigate difficulties in palliative care and relates factors of nurses who receive consultations from palliative care teams (PCT) .</p><p>[ Methods] A self-administered questionnaire was given to 1230 nurses who receive consultations (consultee nurses) from PCT. The questionnaire included feelings of difficulties in palliative care and IPW competencies.</p><p>[ Results] Difficulties in palliative care score and IPW competences score was negatively correlated ( r_s=−.392, p<0.01). On multiple regression analysis, total score of difficulties in palliative care was influenced by “integrated care interaction,” “frequency of attendance of workshops about palliative care,” “experience of cancer nursing,” and “frequency of consultation for PCT” (adjusted R²=.207). 〖Management of team activities〗 ability was negatively associated with difficulty in 【Relief of symptoms】 (β=−.081, p=.042) and 【Communication with patients and families】 (β=−.120, p=.003).</p><p>[ Conclusions] The results suggest that improving the ability to practice IPW reduces feelings of difficulties in palliative care. In the future, improving the 〖integrated care interaction〗 ability and encouraging active collaboration with PCT will lead to reduced feelings of difficulties in palliative care for consultee nurses.</p>