Knowledge and Attitudes of Emergency Medical Service Nurses Toward Palliative Care

Introduction: Palliative care is an increasingly important aspect of healthcare, particularly in emergency medical services (EMS), where professionals often encounter patients with advanced illnesses and complex symptoms. The role of nurses is crucial in identifying needs and providing appropriate interventions. Aim: This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge and review the attitudes of nurses in the Institute of Emergency Medicine of the Šibenik-Knin County regarding palliative care. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to October 2022 using an anonymous questionnaire. The study included 54 EMS employees. The questionnaire consisted of three parts: sociodemographic data, 10 questions from the validated Palliative Care Quiz for Nurses (PCQN), and a set of author-designed questions assessing attitudes towards palliative care. Results: Only one respondent achieved over 75% correct answers, while 37.03% showed sufficient knowledge. The majority of respondents demonstrated a positive attitude towards palliative care. Conclusion: Findings reveal insufficient knowledge of palliative care among EMS nurses, which may compromise the quality of care. Additional training in palliative care is recommended to enhance the effectiveness of EMS teams in supporting palliative patients.