Factors Influencing Compassion Fatigue among Hospice and Palliative Care Unit Nurses

Cho, Eun-Ju,Cho, Hun Ha Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2021 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.24 No.1

Purpose: This descriptive study aimed to explore nursing workplace spirituality, end-of-life care stress, and resilience as factors influencing compassion fatigue among nurses working in hospice and palliative care units. Methods: Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire completed by 146 nurses at 14 hospice and palliative care institutions across South Korea who had worked in a hospice and palliative care institution for at least 6 months and had experience providing end-of-life care. Data were collected from February 25, 2019 to April 12, 2019, and analyzed using SPSS for Windows version 18.0. As appropriate, descriptive statistics, the t-test, analysis of variance, the Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression were used. Results: The survey results showed that factors influencing compassion fatigue were resilience, subjective health status, current satisfaction with the hospice ward, and end-of-life care stress. Higher levels of resilience, a subjective health status of "healthy", high levels of current satisfaction with the hospice ward, and lower levels of end-of-life care stress were associated with lower levels of compassion fatigue, explaining 42.9% of the total variance. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that resilience is an important factor mitigating compassion fatigue among nurses at hospice and palliative care institutions. Therefore, intervention programs should be developed to reduce compassion fatigue.

Changes in Perceptions and Attitudes of Medical Students toward End-of-Life Care after Hospice and Palliative Medicine Education

Cha, Jeehyun,Lihm, Hoseob,Kim, Yoonyoung,Kang, Jihun Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2019 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.22 No.4

목적: 높은 수준의 호스피스 및 완화의료 교육은 한국 의과대학 교육과정에 필요하다. 하지만 이와 연관된 연구는 많지 않은 실정이며 이에 본 연구는 호스피스와 완화의료 교육 과정을 마친 의과 대학생의 호스피스와 완화의료에 대한 인지 및 태도 변화를 연구하기 위해 수행 되었다. 또한 의과대학의 기본 교육 과정 안에서 호스피스 교육과정의 역할에 대해서도 탐구하고자 한다. 방법: 호스피스와 완화의학에 대한 통합적인 교육과정을 마친 총 76명의 의학과 4학년 학생이 자기 기입 형태의 설문조사에 참여 하였다. 교육 과정을 마친 후 수업 전과 비교하여 수업 후의 후의 호스피스 및 완화의료에 대한 지식과 태도를 조사하였다. 결과: 교육 과정을 이수한 이후 가장 큰 변화는 호스피스 및 완화의료 세팅에서 적절한 마약성 진통제를 사용할 수 있는가 하는 부분에서 나타났다(3.50점 vs 5.32 점; P≤0.001). 수업 전과 비교하여 수업 이후 호스피스와 완화의료에 대한 태도를 나타내는 질문인 "나는 호스피스와 완화의료의 목표와 역할을 바르게 알고 있다"고 답한 학생은 17명(22.4%)에서 65명(85.6%)으로 증가하였다. 또한 "예비의사로서 나는 호스피스와 완화의료의 바른 적용 시점을 알고 있다"고 답한 학생은 수업 전의 22명(28.9%)과 비교하여 65명(85.6%)으로 증가하였다. 결론: 통합적인 호스피스 완화의료 교육과정은 의과 대학생의 호스피스 및 완화의료에 대한 인식과 태도를 긍정적인 방향으로 변화시킬 수 있다. Purpose: High-quality hospice and palliative medicine curricula are necessary in Korean medical schools. This study evaluated changes in students' knowledge and attitudes toward both hospice and palliative care following the completion of a course on these topics, as well as the course's overall role in the basic medical education curriculum. Methods: Questionnaires measuring knowledge and attitudes were collected before and after the course from 76 fourth-year medical students, who had received instructions integrating both hospice and palliative care in 2016. Results: The questionnaire item "Select the correct answer on the use of opioid pain control in hospice and palliative care" changed the most in terms of number of correct answers pre- and post-course (3.50 and 5.32, respectively; P<0.001). Pre- and post-course, the numbers of students who answered "Strongly Agree" and "Agree" to questions concerning their attitudes toward hospice and palliative care ("I know the purposes and roles of hospice and palliative care") were 17 (22.4%) and 65 (85.6%), respectively (P≤0.001). Affirmative responses also increased for "As a pre-physician, I know when to describe and advise hospice and palliative care to patients", from 22 (28.9%) to 65 (85.6%; P≤0.001). Conclusion: This study showed that comprehensive hospice education in the form of an integrated educational course might promote changes in medical students' knowledge and attitudes toward hospice and palliative medicine.

Comparison of the Attitudes of Nurses and Physicians toward Palliative Care in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Jung, Ha Na,Ju, Hyeon Ok Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2021 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.24 No.3

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the attitudes of nurses and physicians toward neonatal palliative care and identify the barriers to and facilitators of neonatal palliative care, with the goal of improving palliative care for infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from the NICUs of seven general hospitals with 112 nurses and 52 physicians participating. Data were collected using the Neonatal Palliative Care Attitude Scale questionnaire. Results: Only 12.5% of nurses and 11.5% of physicians reported that they had sufficient education in neonatal palliative care. In contrast, 89.3% of the nurses and 84.6% of the physicians reported that they needed further education. The common facilitators for both nurses and physicians were: 1) agreement by all members of the department regarding the provision of palliative care and 2) informing parents about palliative care options. The common barriers for both nurses and physicians were: 1) policies or guidelines supporting palliative care were not available, 2) counseling was not available, 3) technological imperatives, and 4) parental demands for continuing life support. Insufficient resources, staff, and time were also identified as barriers for nurses, whereas these were not identified as barriers for physicians. Conclusion: It is necessary to develop hospital or national guidelines and educational programs on neonatal palliative care, and it is equally necessary to spread social awareness of the importance of neonatal palliative care.

Attitudes towards Death, Perceptions of Hospice Care, and Hospice Care Needs among Family Members of Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Oak, Yunha,Kim, Young-Sun Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2020 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.23 No.4

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the relationships among attitudes towards death, perceptions of hospice care, and hospice care needs as perceived by family members of patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This study used a descriptive correlational method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 114 participating families in the ICU at Dong-A University Hospital, from October 10 to November 1, 2019. The data were analyzed in terms of frequency, percentage, and mean and standard deviation. The t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation coefficients were also conducted. Results: Perceptions of hospice care showed significant differences according to age (F=3.06, P=0.031) and marital status (t=3.55, P=0.001). However, no significant differences in attitudes towards death or hospice care needs were found. A significant positive correlation was found between perceptions of hospice care and hospice care needs (r=0.49, P<0.001). Conclusion: In order for families to recognize the need for hospice care and to receive high-quality palliative care at the appropriate time, it is necessary to increase public awareness of hospice care through various educational and awareness-raising efforts, thereby providing opportunities for families of terminally ill patients to request hospice care.

Integration of Palliative Care in the Hospital Setting

Wozencraft, Colin,Tucker, Rodney O.,Howell, Stephen Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2012 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.15 No.4

Palliative medicine has shown demonstrated benefit for patients with serious illness, their families, and hospital systems. As such, the demand for palliative care services is growing at a fast pace, and health care facilities frequently struggle to develop and implement effective and sustainable methods of providing this care. As with any new system, challenges and barriers naturally exist to instituting palliative care. Undertaking careful assessment, planning, and resource allocation can provide the greatest likelihood of success when developing these novel yet much needed models of care. This summary paper offers a qualitative overview of the potential benefits and the rationale to implement robust palliative care systems. We briefly review the history of palliative medicine in the broadest sense and address several seminal works from the US palliative care literature. Core practices to establish and advance palliative medicine are suggested. Commentary is provided on some of the particular barriers to palliative system development that may need to be addressed in the context of Korean medical culture. Collectively, we hope this overview can contribute to a framework within which such research and development can occur, leading to increasingly effective and sustainable palliative medicine in Korea.

Barriers to Effective Communication about Advance Care Planning and Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study

Hyosin Kim,Signe Peterson Flieger Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2023 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.26 No.2

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to effective conversations about advance care planning (ACP) and palliative care reported by health care and community-based service providers in Massachusetts, USA. Methods: This qualitative research analyzed open-ended responses to two survey questions, inquiring about perceived barriers to having conversations about ACP and palliative care with patients and consumers. Data were collected between November 2017 and June 2019 from nine organizations in Massachusetts, including health care provider organizations, health insurers, community-based organizations, and a nursing education institution. Two researchers reviewed and coded the responses and identified common themes inductively. Results: Across 142 responses, primary barriers to ACP included hesitation and lack of understanding and knowledge, discomfort and resistance among service providers, lack of staff knowledge, difficulties with followup, and differences in ACP policies across regions. Common barriers to palliative care were misconceptions about palliative care and lack of knowledge, service providers' lack of preparedness, and limited policy support and availability. Challenges relevant to both ACP and palliative care were fear and discomfort around serious illness discussions, lack of knowledge and awareness, discussions that occur too late, and cultural and language barriers. Conclusion: Health care practitioners and community-based professionals reported consumer-, service provider-, and system-level barriers to facilitating conversations about ACP and palliative care with patients experiencing serious illness. There is a need for more tools and support to strengthen service providers' ACP and palliative care competencies and to promote a structured approach to health care planning conversations.

Do Korean Medical Schools Provide Adequate End-of-Life Care Education? A Nationwide Survey of the Republic of Korea's End-of-Life Care Curricula

Kim, Kyong-Jee,Kim, Do Yeun,Shin, Sung Joon,Heo, Dae Seog,Nam, Eun Mi Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2019 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.22 No.4

목적: 임상 의사가 생의 말기 '임종 돌봄(end of life care)'에 대한 진료 역량을 갖추는 것은 점차 중요해 지고 있다. 본 연구는 국내 의과대학에서 임종 돌봄에 대한 교과과정에 대해 조사하고자 하였다. 방법: 각 의과대학에서 임종 돌봄 교과과정에 책임을 지고 있는 교수들에게 교과과정에 대한 내용, 강의 시간, 강의 방법과 교과과정에 대한 태도를 설문지를 통해 분석하였다. 결과: 전체 41개 의과대학 중 27개 의과대학(66%)에서 설문에 응하였다. 모든 의과대학에서 임종 돌봄 교과과정을 단독교과목이나 다른 교과과정 중 포함시켜 교육하고 있었다. 임종 돌봄을 가르치는 시간의 중앙값은 10시간(2~32 시간 범위)였다. 가장 많이 강의 되고 있는 주제는 나쁜 소식 전하기(100%)와 증상 조절(74%)이였다. 완화의료교육과정 평가 도구(palliative care education assessment tool; PEAT)를 적용하였을 때 11개(범위: 2~26; 최대: 83)의 PEAT 목적이 만족되었다. 교육과정에 대부분 2가지 이상의 교육방법이 사용되었으나 3개 의과대학에서는 오직 강의만을 교육방법으로 사용하고 있었다. 교과과정 책임 교수의 78%가 교과과정에 대해 만족하지 않는다고 응답하였고 18%만이 임종 돌봄 강의 시간이 적당하다고 생각하였다. 단지 7%의 교수만 학생들이 임종 돌봄 관련 실제 진료를 할 수 있는 역량을 갖췄다고 답했다. 결론: 의과대학 교육과정 내에 임종 돌봄 관련 학습성과가 도출되고 이를 달성하기 위해 교육과정이 체계적으로 운영되어 졸업 후 학생들이 실제 진료 역량을 갖출 수 있도록 하는 것이 필요할 것으로 생각된다. Purpose: Physician competency in end-of-life (EOL) care is becoming increasingly important. This study investigated the EOL care curricula in Korean medical schools. Methods: Questionnaires were issued to the faculty members responsible for the EOL care curricula at each of the medical schools. These included questions on the structure and content of the curricula, teaching methods, and faculty members' attitudes to the curricula. Results: Characteristics of the EOL care curricula were compiled from 27 (66%) of the 41 medical schools. All of the medical schools taught essential aspects of the EOL care curriculum either as a separate course or embedded within other medical education courses. The mean time spent on EOL care teaching was 10 hrs (range, 2~32 hrs). The most frequently taught topics were delivering bad news (100%) and symptom management (74%). When the palliative care education assessment tool (PEAT) was used to evaluate the curricula, a median of 11 PEAT objectives was met (range, 2~26; maximum, 83). More than two teaching methods were used in most of the curricula. However, lectures were the only teaching method used by three medical schools. 78% of faculty members who were responsible for curriculum reported dissatisfaction with it, whereas 18% believed that the time allotted to it was adequate. Only 7% of these faculty members believed that their students were adequately prepared to practice EOL care. Conclusion: There is a need to improve EOL care education in basic medical curricula and to take a more systematic approach to achieving learning outcomes.

Barriers to Early Palliative Care

Yoon, Seok-Joon Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2020 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.23 No.4

This article aims to discuss the barriers hindering cancer patients from receiving early palliative care, which has been demonstrated to be more effective in improving quality of life and controlling symptoms. Specifically, there are barriers in four aspects of delivering early palliative care. First, the difficulty of starting discussions about early palliative care and the lack of adequate appointment time can impede communication between oncologists and patients and their family members. Second, determining the timing of referral and deciding upon and applying a standard for referral can be barriers in the process of referral from oncology to palliative care. Third, palliative care patients and their family members can face difficulties regarding in what format and by whom the services will be delivered. Fourth, biases, misinformation, and inaccurate beliefs can be barriers in the process of patients and their family members accepting care. In order to facilitate early palliative care, research and policy regarding these barriers are necessary, along with efforts made by medical staff.

Models for Spiritual Care in Hospice and Palliative Care

Kang, Kyung-Ah Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2018 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.21 No.2

영성은 인간의 본질적인 부분으로 말기 환자와 가족의 실제적인 영적요구 충족을 위한 영적돌봄은 HPC에서 가장 중요한 영역이다. 말기환자와 가족의 실제적인 영적요구에 부응하는 돌봄모형을 확인하기 위해 최근 보건의료계에서 가장 많이 사용하는 국 내외 database를 검색하여 분석한 결과, 영성은 전인적 존재인 인간의 본질적인 부분으로, 삶의 위기상황에 더욱 충족되어야 할 존재론적 특성으로서, 말기 환자의 영성평가는 HPCT이 기본적으로 갖추어야 할 역량임이 확인되었다. HPC에 evidence based theory로 활용 가능한 총 10개의 모델이 제시되었다. 세 개의 모델들은 영적돌봄 결과에 초점을 둔 모델로서, spiritual health, QOL, and coping을 중요한 outcome으로 보는 모델들이었다. 영적돌봄수행에 초점을 둔 모델은 7개였으며, HPCT의 다학제간 협력을 통한 돌봄과정을 나타낸 'Wholeperson Care Model', 인간의 보편적인 실존적 요구충족이 보완된 'An Existential Functioning Model', 대상자의 문화적, 그 외 다양성을 고려하는 'An Open Pluralism View', HPCT와 말기환자와의 관계중심모델인 'A spiritual-relational view' and 'The Framework of Systemic Organization', 영적돌봄과정의 전체적 역동을 설명하는 'The principal components model' and 'The Actioning Spirituality and Spiritual care in Education and Training model'이 있다. 이러한 모델을 토대로 HPC에서 가장 최선의 영적돌봄 모델 구축을 위한 지속적인 임상연구 노력이 계속될 필요가 있겠다. Spirituality is an essential part of human beings. Spiritual care, designed to meet the spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families, is one of the most important aspects of hospice and palliative care (HPC). This study reviewed and analyzed literature utilizing the most commonly used Korean and international healthcare databases to identify care models that adequately address the spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families in practice. The results of this study show that spirituality is an intrinsic part of humans, meaning that people are holistic beings. The literature has provided ten evidence-based theories that can be used as models in HPC. Three of the models focus on how the spiritual care outcomes of viewing spiritual health, quality of life, and coping, are important outcomes. The remaining seven models focus on implementation of spiritual care. The "whole-person care model" addresses the multidisciplinary collaboration within HPC. The "existential functioning model" emphasizes the existential needs of human beings. The "open pluralism view" considers the cultural diversity and other types of diversity of care recipients. The "spiritual-relational view" and "framework of systemic organization" models focus on the relationship between hospital palliative care teams and terminally ill patients. The "principal components model" and "actioning spirituality and spiritual care in education and training model" explain the overall dynamics of the spiritual care process. Based on these models, continuous clinical research efforts are needed to establish an optimal spiritual care model for HPC.

Quantity over Quality? Perception of Designating Long-Term Care Hospitals as Providers of Hospice and Palliative Care

Kim-Knauss, Yaeji,Jeong, Eunseok,Sim, Jin-ah,Lee, Jihye,Choo, Jiyeon,Yun, Young Ho Korean Society for Hospice and Palliative Care 2019 한국호스피스.완화의료학회지 Vol.22 No.4

목적: 호스피스 완화의료에의 접근성 향상을 위해 요양병원을 호스피스 전문기관으로 지정하는 개정안이 최근 시행되었다. 호스피스 전문기관의 양적 증대도 중요하지만, 이러한 개정에 따른 서비스의 질적 저하 역시 충분히 고려되어야 한다. 이러한 관점에서 본 연구는 1,001명의 암환자, 1,006명의 가족 간병인, 928명의 의사 및 1,005명의 일반인이 해당 개정안이 가진 이점과 비용에 대해 어떻게 인식하고 있는지 확인하였다. 방법: 2016년 7월부터 10월까지 다기관 단면조사를 시행하였다. 연구 참여자들은 전문가 인터뷰 및 선행연구에서 추출된 본 개정안의 이점과 비용에 대해 각각 얼마나 동의 혹은 동의하지 않는지 응답하였다. 분석에는 카이제곱 분석, 단변량 및 다변량 로지스틱 회귀분석을 활용하였다. 결과: 참조집단인 일반인 집단과 비교했을 때, 의사 집단은 요양병원이 양질의 호스피스 완화의료 서비스를 제공하기 위한 시설 및 인력이 충분하지 않다는 점에 더 동의하였으나, 요양병원에서 과한 진료비를 청구할 것이라는 점에는 더 동의하지 않았다. 가족 간병인의 경우 일반인에 비해 요양병원에서 서비스를 제공한다면 접근성이 좋아질 것이라는 점에 더 동의했으나, 호스피스 정신이 훼손될 수 있음과 가족들이 환자 돌봄에 신경 쓰지 않을 것을 더 우려하였다. 일반인과 비교했을 때, 암환자 역시 마찬가지로 호스피스 정신이 훼손될 수 있음을 더 우려하였으며, 서비스의 질이 좋아질 것이라는 점에 대해서는 더 동의하지 않았다. 결론: 본 연구를 통해 호스피스 완화의료의 잠재적인 서비스 이용자 및 제공자가 해당 개정의 이점뿐만 아니라 비용 역시 인식하고 있음을 확인하였다. 본 연구 결과 및 유럽 국가들의 사례를 통해 개정안이 실제로 현장에서 실행되기 전에 호스피스 전문기관으로서 요양병원이 새롭게 갖추어야 할 요건 및 방향성에 대해 제언하였다. Purpose: Amendment to the Act on Decisions on Life-sustaining Treatment was recently enacted to designate long-term care hospitals as providers of hospice and palliative care. Despite its benefit of providing improved accessibility to end-of-life care, the amendment has raised concerns about its effect on quality of service. This study aimed to use information obtained from an expert group interview and previous studies to compare how cancer patients, family caregivers, physicians, and the general Korean population perceive the potential benefits and risks of this amendment. Methods: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study from July to October 2016. The included participants answered a structured questionnaire regarding the extent to which they agree or disagree with the questionnaire items indicating the potential benefits and risks of the amendment. Chi-square tests and univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Compared with the general population, physicians agreed more that long-term care hospitals are currently not adequately equipped to provide quality hospice and palliative care. Family caregivers found improved access to long-term care hospitals more favorable but were more likely to agree that these hospitals might prioritize profits, thereby threatening the philosophy of hospice care, and that families might cease to fulfill filial responsibilities. Compared with the general population, cancer patients were more concerned about the potentially decreased service quality in this setting. Conclusion: Although potential service beneficiaries and providers expected improved accessibility of hospice and palliative care services, they were also concerned whether the system can provide adequate quality of end-of-life care.