Predictors of Palliative Care Knowledge Among Nursing Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Societal aging, a concern in many countries worldwide, is increasing the demand for quality palliative care in Saudi Arabia. Nursing education is responsible for providing nursing students with high levels of knowledge and competency related to palliative care. Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the predictors of palliative care knowledge among nursing students in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A convenience sample of 409 nursing students from one public academic institution and one private academic institution in Saudi Arabia was surveyed from November to December 2017 in this descriptive, cross-sectional study. The 20-item Palliative Care Quiz for Nursing was used to collect the data. Descriptive statistics were used to fully describe the demographic characteristics and palliative care knowledge of the participants. One-way analysis of variance and t test were used to examine the associations between palliative care knowledge and the demographic characteristics. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify the significant demographic predictors of this knowledge. Results: The mean score of the participants was 5.23 (SD = 3.24, range = 0-12), indicating poor palliative care knowledge. The participants lacked palliative care knowledge in terms of palliative care principles and philosophy, management of pain and other symptoms, and psychosocial and spiritual care. Being enrolled in a private university, being in the second year of a nursing program, having attended palliative care education sessions outside a university setting, and attending a palliative care course in the nursing program were identified as significant predictors of higher palliative care knowledge.