Surgical ICU Nurses' Attitudes on End-of-Life Care

NCT06285305 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: kilis_2
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 250
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to explore the attitudes and behaviors of nurses working in surgical intensive care units (ICUs) towards end-of-life care, alongside identifying the barriers they face in providing such care. Despite the universal need for end-of-life care, with an estimated 56.8 million people requiring it annually, only a fraction receive adequate services. The concept of a "good death" has evolved, now emphasizing patient and family wishes, and aligning with clinical, cultural, and ethical standards. In the U.S., a significant portion of deaths occur in hospitals, often involving surgical interventions in the final stages of life. Nurses in ICUs play a crucial role in delivering end-of-life care, making their attitudes and behaviors pivotal to the quality of care provided. Previous studies have indicated a positive correlation between nurses' attitudes towards end-of-life care and their ethical conduct in care delivery. However, research specifically focusing on surgical ICU nurses and the challenges they encounter in end-of-life care is limited. This study seeks to fill that gap, enhancing understanding of the factors that influence end-of-life care in surgical ICUs and potentially guiding improvements in care practices and policy.

Conditions

PATİENT CARE; Intensive Care Unit

Keywords

End-of-Life Care; Surgical Intensive Care Nurses; Attitudes; Behaviors; Barriers; Intensive Care Unit; Patient Care; Ethical Standards; Quality of Life; Clinical Decision-Making

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Descriptive Information Form

  This section contains questions about health professionals' demographic and professional characteristics, such as age, gender, educational background, marital status, and professional experience.

  up to 20 weeks

• Attitudes and Behaviors Towards End-of-Life Care Scale for Intensive Care Nurses

  Developed by Zomorodi (2008) and revised by Zomorodi and Lynn (2010), this scale measures intensive care nurses' attitudes and behaviors regarding end-of-life care. It has a Cronbach's alpha of 0.78 and was adapted into Turkish by Yalçınkaya (2016) with a reliability of 0.70. The scale, using a five-point Likert type, consists of two sub-dimensions (attitudes and behaviors towards end-of-life care) and includes a total of 16 items.

  up to 20 weeks

• Barriers to End-of-Life Care in Surgical Intensive Care Form

  Created after reviewing sources (Nelson 2006; Friedenberg 2012; Taylor 2017; Ganz 2019; Diaz 2020; Xu 2022; Gu 2022), this form identifies barriers nurses face in providing end-of-life care in surgical ICUs through 20 structured questions on a five-point Likert scale. The form's content validity was assessed by two intensive care anesthesiologists and three nursing faculty members through email. Items were rated on a scale of 1-4 for appropriateness and clarity (1: not suitable, 2: somewhat suitable, 3: quite suitable but needs minor changes, 4: very suitable). The Content Validity Index (CVI) was calculated as 0.96, indicating the form is suitable for this research (Davis 1993).

  up to 20 weeks

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of nurses employed in Surgical Intensive Care Units (SICUs) who have voluntarily agreed to participate in this research. This group is targeted due to their direct involvement and experience with end-of-life care practices within a highly specialized and critical care environment. The inclusion of SICU nurses allows for a focused examination of the attitudes, behaviors, and perceived barriers towards end-of-life care in a setting that frequently confronts the complexities of life-threatening conditions and death. This specific population provides valuable insights into the challenges and needs associated with end-of-life care in surgical intensive care contexts, contributing to the development of more effective care strategies and policies to support both patients and healthcare professionals in this sensitive area of medical care.

You may qualify if:

• Nurses working in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit,
• Nurses willing to participate in the study will be included.

You may not qualify if:

• Nurses who wish to withdraw from the study at any stage after being included will not have their data included in the research.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Kilis 7 Aralik University: lead
• Hasan Kalyoncu University: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Islam

Kilis, 79100, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Behavior

Central Study Contacts

islam RA ELAGÖZ, MsC

CONTACT

+905304096124; islam.elagoz@kilis.edu.tr

Aynur Dr KOYUNCU

CONTACT

+905304096124; aynur.koyuncu@yahoo.com

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CROSSOVER
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Target Duration: 1 Year
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Researcher Asisstan

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 22, 2024
• First Posted: February 29, 2024
• Study Start: April 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: May 1, 2024
• Study Completion: June 1, 2024
• Last Updated: February 29, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)