Nurses' knowledge of advance directives and perceived confidence in end-of-life care: a cross-sectional study in five countries

• Published in: International journal of nursing practice Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 247 - 257
• Main Authors: Coffey, Alice, McCarthy, Geraldine, Weathers, Elizabeth, Friedman, M. Isabel, Gallo, Katherine, Ehrenfeld, Mally, Chan, Sophia, Li, William H.C., Poletti, Piera, Zanotti, Renzo, Molloy, D. William, McGlade, Ciara, Fitzpatrick, Joyce J., Itzhaki, Michal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.06.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Advance directives; Chinese people; Comparative studies; Confidence; Cross-Sectional Studies; End of life decisions; end-of-life; Humans; Internationality; knowledge; Legislation; Nurses; nursing; Nursing Staff; Palliative care; Professional knowledge; Research Paper; Research Papers; Settlements & damages; Terminal Care; Italy; Israel; Hong Kong; Ireland; United States > US; end-of-life; nursing; advance directives; confidence; knowledge
• ISSN: 1322-7114; 1440-172X
• DOI: 10.1111/ijn.12417

Nurses' knowledge regarding advance directives may affect their administration and completion in end‐of‐life care. Confidence among nurses is a barrier to the provision of quality end‐of‐life care. This study investigated nurses' knowledge of advance directives and perceived confidence in end‐of‐life care, in Hong Kong, Ireland, Israel, Italy and the USA using a cross‐sectional descriptive design (n = 1089). In all countries, older nurses and those who had more professional experience felt more confident managing patients' symptoms at end‐of‐life and more comfortable stopping preventive medications at end‐of‐life. Nurses in the USA reported that they have more knowledge and experience of advance directives compared with other countries. In addition, they reported the highest levels of confidence and comfort in dealing with end‐of‐life care. Although legislation for advance directives does not yet exist in Ireland, nurses reported high levels of confidence in end‐of‐life care.