Nurses' Perception of Supportive Behaviors in Providing Pediatric End-of-Life Care and Its Correlation With Their Demographic Factors

The kind of care that nurses provide for dying persons is influenced by their perceptions and attitudes toward death. Gaining an increased understanding of nurses' perceptions of changes that would facilitate appropriate end-of-life care is important to improve quality care. Using a translated modified version of The National Survey of Critical Care Nurses Regarding End-of-Life questionnaire, the correlation between 151 nurses' demographic factors and their perceptions of supportive behaviors' magnitude was assessed. The highest/lowest perceived supportive behavior magnitude scores belonged to items, respectively, providing a peaceful, dignified bedside scene for family once the child has died (5.75) in health care professional-related category and letting the religious leader take primary care of the grieving family (1.08) in organizational-related category. Some nurses' demographic factors including family and close friends' death experience, number of dying children who were cared for, and previous education toward death and dying were positively correlated with perceived supportive behavior magnitude scores. This study revealed that nurses' personal and professional experience may affect their perceptions of supportive behaviors in providing end-of-life care. Some educational programs in raising nurses' self-awareness of their perceptions, accompanied by interventions, are required to improve pediatric end-of-life care.